Former CIA Director John Brennan has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, seeking a court order to compel officials to preserve records from investigations he claims are targeting him for "phantom criminal conduct." The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, names President Donald Trump, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other officials as defendants.
Brennan argues the records are crucial for mounting a defense against potential vindictive prosecution. His legal team cites over 100 public statements by Trump since 2017 criticizing Brennan and directives to the Department of Justice to pursue cases "without regard to factual or legal justification."
The lawsuit highlights two separate investigations into Brennan. One examines whether he made false statements to Congress regarding the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The other probes allegations of a conspiracy by officials to undermine Trump’s presidency. Brennan’s attorneys claim the investigations are politically motivated, citing Trump’s long-standing public calls for his prosecution.
The Department of Justice confirmed in July 2025 that it was investigating Brennan’s handling of the inquiry into possible ties between Trump and Russia. Brennan’s lawsuit seeks to ensure all documents related to these investigations are preserved for potential future legal proceedings.