Justice Department Removes Lead Prosecutor From Probe Of Prominent

Justice Department removes lead prosecutor from probe of prominent Trump critic and former CIA Director John Brennan

The U.S. Justice Department has removed the lead federal prosecutor overseeing a high-profile criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, according to people familiar with the matter, marking a major shake-up in a politically sensitive case involving one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent critics.

The prosecutor, Maria Medetis Long, who had been leading the Miami-based investigation for months, notified attorneys on Friday that she was no longer handling the case. Her removal comes amid increasing internal pressure surrounding the direction and pace of the probe, which has focused on Brennan’s role in intelligence matters tied to Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

The investigation centers on allegations that Brennan may have made false statements in congressional testimony and on actions related to the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that concluded Russia sought to influence the election in Trump’s favor. According to reporting, career prosecutors working on the case had faced mounting pressure from senior Justice Department officials to move toward potential charges, while others inside the department have reportedly raised concerns about the strength of the evidence and legal viability of the case. The decision to remove the lead prosecutor adds another layer of uncertainty to an inquiry that has already drawn scrutiny due to its political sensitivity. Brennan, who served as CIA director from 2013 to 2017, has denied wrongdoing and has previously described investigations into him as politically motivated. The Justice Department has not publicly commented on the personnel change or the status of the investigation.

The probe remains active and is part of a broader set of inquiries into former intelligence and law enforcement officials involved in investigations linked to Trump’s first term.

Sources indicate that the case is still being handled within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, though leadership responsibilities are now expected to shift following the prosecutor’s removal.