Ex-CIA chief issued subpoena in Trump investigation, lawyer says : NPR
Key Points:
- Former CIA Director John Brennan has been subpoenaed to testify before a Florida grand jury as part of a Justice Department investigation into whether former officials conspired against President Donald Trump, and he is also under inquiry for allegedly making false statements to Congress.
- Brennan's attorney, Ken Wainstein, disclosed the subpoena and requested a court order to preserve all investigation records, arguing the Justice Department may be pursuing a vindictive and selective prosecution against Brennan, an outspoken Trump critic.
- The subpoena requires Brennan to appear on October 15 in Fort Pierce, Florida, where a Trump-appointed judge previously dismissed charges against Trump related to classified documents; the probe centers on allegations that officials conspired to deprive Trump of his civil rights.
- The lead prosecutor on the investigation, Joe diGenova, resigned abruptly amid reported frustration over the probe's pace, with no replacement publicly announced; the defense seeks communications showing Trump or White House officials directing the Justice Department to target Brennan.
- The Justice Department has called Brennan's preservation request premature and speculative, noting he is not currently charged with a crime, while the federal judge has yet to rule on the request.