The news of James Comey’s indictment this week hit like a thunderclap, charging the former FBI director with making false statements and obstruction of justice tied to the Trump-Russia investigation. It’s a long-overdue step toward holding accountable those who pushed the Russiagate narrative, and now all eyes are turning to John Brennan, the ex-CIA chief who’s been a vocal defender of Comey—and potentially facing his own legal troubles.
Brennan didn’t waste time jumping to Comey’s defense. In a recent MSNBC appearance, he insisted that his old colleague is “a man of integrity, of honesty” and “committed to the rule of law.”
But that endorsement might say more about Brennan’s own vulnerabilities than Comey’s innocence. After all, these two were key players in the intelligence community’s assessment that painted Russia as meddling in the 2016 election to help Trump, a claim that’s unraveled under scrutiny.
Back in July, reports emerged that Brennan and Comey were both under criminal investigation by the DOJ for potential wrongdoing in the Trump-Russia probe. Sources pointed to false statements made to Congress and other missteps.
Legal experts like Jonathan Turley have called Brennan “like a 30 point buck now, out in the open,” arguing he’s the most exposed to charges over lies about the Steele dossier’s inclusion in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment.
The timing adds urgency. The statute of limitations for some of Brennan’s alleged actions, like his August 2020 questioning by Special Counsel John Durham, could run out as early as next week. One analysis notes there’s just days left—potentially by Tuesday, September 30—to bring charges tied to that session, where Brennan might have spun tales to cover his tracks. If prosecutors act fast, this could open the floodgates, attributing later overt acts to the broader conspiracy and keeping the window open for others involved.