The U.S. Justice Department has appointed Joseph DiGenova, a conservative lawyer who represented former President Donald Trump’s campaign during challenges to the 2020 election results, to oversee an ongoing criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, a department official confirmed on Saturday.
DiGenova will manage the probe from the Southern District of Florida and serve as counselor to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. His appointment follows the removal of career federal prosecutor Maria Medetis Long from the case, reportedly after she raised concerns regarding the strength of the evidence against Brennan.
A Justice Department spokesperson described personnel changes on investigations as routine but did not specify reasons for Long’s reassignment. The shift in leadership has generated scrutiny given DiGenova’s known political ties and prior advocacy of election-related conspiracy theories.
Investigation Background
The Brennan probe originated from a referral made in October by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, which alleged that Brennan lied to Congress about the CIA’s role in drafting the intelligence assessment on Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The committee chair, Jim Jordan, accused Brennan of falsely denying reliance on the Steele dossier—a controversial document compiled by ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele—and misrepresenting the CIA’s position on including it in the assessment.
The Steele dossier contained unverified allegations against then-candidate Trump and has been a focal point in politically charged investigations. Recent weeks have seen increased activity in the probe, including interviews with key witnesses, with additional involvement from Chris DeLorenz, a former law clerk to a federal judge who worked on related investigations.
DiGenova’s Role and Controversies
Joseph DiGenova, age 81, served previously as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia under President Ronald Reagan. He is a staunch ally of Trump and has publicly promoted theories alleging fraud in the 2020 election.
DiGenova drew significant criticism and legal action in 2021 after calling for the former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Chris Krebs—who had declared the 2020 election free from significant fraud—to be “drawn and quartered” and “shot” during a television interview. Krebs subsequently sued DiGenova, asserting these remarks incited death threats against him.
Why it matters
The appointment of DiGenova to oversee this politically sensitive investigation raises questions about potential bias and the impartiality of Justice Department probes into intelligence community officials. It also reflects ongoing tensions surrounding investigations linked to disputes over election integrity and intelligence assessments from previous administrations.
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