Former CIA Director John Brennan filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the U.S. Department of Justice and senior Trump administration officials, seeking a court order to compel the preservation of records relevant to ongoing criminal investigations against him. The 46-page complaint, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges that the investigations are part of a retaliatory campaign by the current administration against its political adversaries.
Brennan’s legal team argues that he is being “vindictively singled out” and that the loss of any relevant documentation would impair his ability to challenge any potential future indictment on constitutional grounds, specifically regarding selective and vindictive prosecution. The lawsuit identifies several high-level officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and raises concerns regarding the appointment of personnel to these investigations, such as former official John Yoo and election security director Kurt Olsen.
The complaint asserts that the current administration has adopted a policy of utilizing the criminal justice system to punish perceived political opponents. Brennan’s motion comes amid a broader pattern of judicial scrutiny regarding recent Justice Department actions, including recent rulings in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., where federal judges quashed grand jury subpoenas deemed retaliatory or unlawful.
A Department of Justice spokesperson declined to comment on the existence of any specific investigation, dismissing Brennan’s claims as “rich” given his own background in intelligence. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb.