In a significant development in the ongoing investigations surrounding former intelligence operations, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) has officially referred former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), John Brennan, to the Department of Justice for potential criminal prosecution. This referral arises after Brennan allegedly made multiple false statements during a transcribed interview before the Committee on the Judiciary on May 11, 2023.
During his testimony, Brennan is accused of making numerous willfully false statements of material fact that contradict the established records of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the CIA. Notably, he falsely denied that the CIA had relied on the discredited Steele dossier when drafting the post-2016 election Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). Brennan also claimed that the CIA opposed including the dossier in the ICA, which is firmly contradicted by newly declassified documents.
Brennan's assertion that the CIA was not involved with the Steele dossier is inconsistent with the facts. Newly declassified documents reveal that a CIA officer drafted an annex summarizing the dossier, and Brennan, along with then-FBI Director James Comey, made the decision to incorporate information from the dossier into the ICA. Furthermore, Brennan allegedly overruled senior CIA officers who raised objections to including the dossier material.
The referral letter highlights several critical points of evidence supporting the investigation into Brennan's testimony:
Brennan's Denial of CIA Reliance on the Steele Dossier: Brennan claimed the CIA did not rely on the Steele dossier for the ICA, despite the fact that the dossier was referenced in the ICA's main text and detailed in a two-page annex. This annex was included based on findings described in the dossier, which was created by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele and financed by the Clinton campaign. Contradictory Claims About Opposition to Inclusion: Brennan testified that the CIA opposed including the Steele dossier in the ICA. However, a declassified CIA memorandum indicates that he disregarded concerns raised by CIA mission center leaders about the dossier's credibility, ultimately deciding to include it in the report. History of False Testimony: In a previous testimony before HPSCI in 2017, Brennan falsely stated that the Steele dossier was not used as a basis for the ICA. This pattern of providing misleading information raises serious questions about his credibility and the integrity of the testimony he provided in 2023.The referral to the Department of Justice is based on potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which states that a witness commits a crime if they knowingly and willfully make materially false statements during any congressional investigation. The integrity of congressional oversight is paramount, and false statements undermine this constitutional duty.
As the situation unfolds, the implications of Brennan's alleged false statements could have far-reaching consequences not only for him personally but also for the broader context of intelligence operations and oversight in the United States. The Department of Justice will now examine whether Brennan's testimony warrants criminal charges under federal law.
For more detailed insights, you can read the complete letter to Attorney General Bondi regarding this matter.
