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 that 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 seeks to preserve documents related to two federal probes: one examining allegations of a conspiracy by officials in former President Joe Biden’s administration to prevent Trump from taking office, and another connected to allegations that Brennan gave false statements while testifying in 2023 about the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA).
The lawsuit claims that Brennan is facing investigations into "phantom criminal conduct" and is being targeted by the DOJ as an adversary of Trump. Brennan’s attorneys argue that any criminal case would require scrutiny of the documented history of the investigations and that the records must be preserved for a fair defense.
The Department of Justice confirmed in July 2025 that the Trump administration was investigating Brennan in relation to his handling of the inquiry into possible ties between Trump and Russia. The lawsuit also names the House Judiciary Committee, which referred Brennan to the DOJ for potential prosecution.
Brennan’s legal team asserts that the investigations are politically motivated and that the DOJ has converted into a tool of retribution against perceived adversaries of the president. The lawsuit seeks preliminary injunctive relief to protect Brennan’s constitutional rights as the target of these investigations.