Subpoena Issued to John Brennan by Trump Loyalist Before DOJ Resignation
A Trump loyalist leading a conspiracy investigation into various grievances associated with former President Donald Trump signed a subpoena seeking testimony from former CIA director John Brennan shortly before resigning from the Justice Department last week, according to Brennan's attorney. On September 9, Joe diGenova signed the subpoena aimed at securing Brennan's testimony before a federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida. Brennan's attorney, Ken Wainstein, noted that after reaching out to diGenova following the acceptance of the subpoena on September 10, diGenova indicated he would arrange for counsel to discuss the matter. Brennan's testimony was initially scheduled for October 15.
DiGenova resigned later that Thursday, and the following day, Wainstein reported that Kurt Olsen, a 2020 election denier now part of the prosecutorial team in the Southern District of Florida, informed Brennan's team of multiple ongoing grand jury investigations involving Brennan. These investigations reportedly include a wide-ranging inquiry into issues at Mar-a-Lago and beyond, focusing on whether Trump had his civil rights violated. Olsen confirmed that Brennan was considered a target of a narrower investigation, while the subpoena was related to a broader conspiracy investigation in which Brennan was a subject.
Wainstein's filing came just before he and co-counsel Daniel Gelber appeared in court to request that U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb order the Justice Department to preserve communications related to the Brennan case. Brennan's legal team is seeking an injunction to ensure that the government maintains all records and communications pertinent to the decision to investigate and prosecute him, arguing that the case is driven by vindictiveness from Trump. Wainstein stated that the government is not forthcoming about what it may be destroying, suggesting that there are underhanded tactics at play in the investigation.
Wainstein also accused the Justice Department of engaging in "games" with the case and described the situation as an unprecedented example of judge shopping, given that the federal grand jury probe is being conducted in Fort Pierce, where Trump-friendly U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon presides. He argued that public officials are expected to operate lawfully and honestly in their official duties and should not be entitled to the same protections as private citizens.
DiGenova's Role and Resignation Impact
The attorney emphasized that diGenova had been a strong advocate for the case against Brennan, having previously labeled him a "traitor," and noted that his resignation sent a clear message regarding the investigation. DiGenova did not respond to inquiries on Monday regarding his departure.
Following diGenova's resignation, the investigation is now being overseen by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones, with assistance from Main Justice. Wainstein expressed concern that any communications exchanged via disappearing messaging platforms, such as Signal, would be lost if Brennan were to wait until charges were filed to address his constitutional rights. He suggested that the Justice Department's use of such messaging indicates a desire to conceal discussions about the politically charged investigation.
Filed & Cleared
Reports from NBC News in May indicated that the FBI was interviewing current and former CIA officers as part of this ongoing investigation. DiGenova mentioned to NBC News that a specific incident prompted his resignation but declined to provide further details, stating that boundaries had been crossed within the investigation team.
As the case unfolds, the implications of the investigations into Brennan and the broader context of Trump's grievances continue to raise questions about the intersection of politics and justice.
