Judge dismisses John Brennan's lawsuit over Justice Department records
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit by former CIA Director John Brennan, The Washington Post and Fox News reported. Brennan wanted a court order to keep officials from destroying records tied to the probe of him. The judge said his fears were too speculative, but called his claims of being targeted "deeply concerning."
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit by former CIA Director John Brennan that sought a court order directing the Trump administration to preserve all records related to its investigation of him, The Washington Post and Fox News reported.
U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb wrote that allegations the administration is using its law enforcement powers to target Brennan are "deeply concerning," the Post and Fox News reported. But she ruled that he lacked standing to sue, Fox News reported. Cobb said that although Brennan could be harmed in the future, his claims are now speculative and based on a "chain of possibilities," the Post reported. "For Brennan's constitutional injury to actually accrue, a series of dominoes must fall, and Defendants' deletion of records is just one of those dominoes," Cobb wrote, according to Fox News. The government laid out that chain of events in its motion to dismiss, and Brennan accepted it, Cobb wrote, according to Fox News. Cobb was appointed by President Joe Biden, the Post and Fox News reported.
Brennan faces a possible federal indictment, the Post reported. One probe is examining whether former officials conspired to violate Trump's rights through investigations of ties between his 2016 campaign and Russia, Fox News and the Post reported. A separate investigation is looking at whether Brennan made false statements in 2023 testimony to Congress, Fox News reported. He has not been charged with a crime, Fox News reported. Trump has repeatedly accused Brennan and other former intelligence officials of orchestrating the "Russia collusion hoax," Fox News reported, an accusation they reject.
Brennan filed the suit July 1, naming Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche and others, Fox News reported. He acknowledged the suit was unusual but argued court action was needed because the case appeared to be driven by Trump's personal animus, the Post reported. He pointed to the administration's use of messaging apps with auto-delete features, Fox News reported.
Brennan's lawyers, Ken Wainstein and Dan Gelber, said in remarks reported by The Associated Press and cited by Fox News that the suit put the government on notice that its handling of records would be "carefully scrutinized" if Brennan is indicted. "Director Brennan will continue to vigorously defend himself against these baseless investigations," they said, according to Fox News. Fox News reported that it had asked the Justice Department for comment.
What we know: The judge dismissed Brennan's suit for lack of standing while calling his targeting claims "deeply concerning."
What we don't: Whether Brennan will appeal, and whether prosecutors will seek an indictment.
Where outlets agree The Washington Post and Fox News both report that Judge Jia Cobb dismissed Brennan's records lawsuit while calling his targeting allegations "deeply concerning."
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.