John Brennan probe: Justice Department removes lead prosecutor
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- The Justice Department removed Miami federal prosecutor Maria Medetis Long from leading the investigation into former CIA director John Brennan after she resisted pressure to quickly bring charges against him, sources say.
- The probe centers on Brennan’s 2017 intelligence assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump, a long-standing grievance of the former president.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has intensified efforts to expedite cases favored by Trump following the firing of former Attorney General Pam Bondi due to dissatisfaction with the pace of prosecutions.
- Despite pressure, career prosecutors have expressed doubts about the strength of the case against Brennan but continue to pursue possible charges related to allegations he lied to Congress.
- The Justice Department stated that reassigning attorneys is a routine practice to allocate resources effectively and emphasized that changing legal teams is normal.
