Russiagate Revisited: Trump CIA Chief Refers Brennan & Comey for Criminal Investigation

This is the first of a three-part series on reports that Trump CIA Director John Ratcliffe has referred two Obama-era officials — John Brennan and James Comey, then directors of the CIA and FBI, respectively — for criminal investigation. To understand what the referral is about, and why it is a political gambit rather than a viable prosecutorial exercise, we need to go back to the so-called Russiagate scandal that beleaguered the first Trump administration.

According to several reports, John Ratcliffe, President Trump’s CIA director, has referred his predecessor, John Brennan, as well as former FBI Director James Comey, Brennan’s Obama-era colleague, for a criminal investigation, to be conducted by the FBI.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.

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This is the first of a three-part series on reports that Trump CIA Director John Ratcliffe has referred two Obama-era officials — John Brennan and James Comey, then directors of the CIA and FBI, respectively — for criminal investigation. To understand what the referral is about, and why it is a political gambit rather than a viable prosecutorial exercise, we need to go back to the so-called Russiagate scandal that beleaguered the first Trump administration.

According to several reports, John Ratcliffe, President Trump’s CIA director, has referred his predecessor, John Brennan, as well as former FBI Director James Comey, Brennan’s Obama-era colleague, for a criminal investigation, to be conducted by the FBI.

About the Author

Andrew C. McCarthy

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow at National Review Institute, an NR contributing editor, and author of Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency.