The Department of Justice has been formally referred former CIA Director John Brennan for potential criminal prosecution over alleged false testimony before Congress.
A letter from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to Attorney General Pam Bondi details claims that Brennan “knowingly made false statements during his transcribed interview” with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in May 2023. The document asserts that Brennan’s testimony contradicted evidence from the committee and CIA records, including allegations that he lied about the agency’s involvement with the discredited Steele dossier.
Jordan’s accusations focus on Brennan’s 2023 assertions that the CIA had no connection to the dossier, which was later revealed through declassified documents to have been shared by the agency with the FBI. The letter also highlights Brennan’s testimony denying his role in including dossier information in a 2017 intelligence assessment, despite evidence showing he opposed objections from CIA staff to include it.
The House Intelligence Committee report cited Brennan’s statements, including his remark: “Yes, but doesn’t it ring true?” as evidence of his efforts to promote the dossier’s claims. Jordan described Brennan’s testimony as a “brazen attempt to knowingly and willfully testify falsely.”
Brennan, who currently serves as an MSNBC contributor, has previously stated he was unaware of the FBI’s investigation into him. The referral follows a review by current CIA Director John Ratcliffe on the agency’s 2016 election-related activities.
