Joe diGenova takes over John Brennan investigation
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 8
Joe diGenova takes over John Brennan investigation
2 articles · Updated · CNN · May 8
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche replaced Maria Medetis Long after she told Justice Department officials in Washington the evidence was too weak to support lying-to-Congress charges.
DiGenova, a longtime Washington lawyer, is refocusing the inquiry from Fort Pierce, Florida, where prosecutors have issued more than 150 subpoenas and interviewed current and former CIA employees.
The shake-up follows White House pressure to pursue Trump critics, while prosecutors had viewed Washington as the likeliest venue because Brennan's congressional testimony occurred there.
How does relocating a major federal probe to a new state change its focus and potential outcome?
With massive staff turnover, how will new hiring policies reshape the future of the Justice Department?
From Caution to Confrontation: How DiGenova’s Leadership Transformed the Brennan Perjury Case
Overview
In April 2026, Joseph diGenova was appointed lead prosecutor in the DOJ's investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan, following the removal of career prosecutor Maria Medetis Long who resisted pressure to quickly charge Brennan. DiGenova shifted tactics from voluntary interviews to grand jury subpoenas, escalating the probe amid political controversy. The investigation originated from a 2025 criminal referral by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, triggered by declassified documents from Tulsi Gabbard and focused on allegations that Brennan lied under oath about the CIA's role in the 2017 Russia election interference assessment. Critics warn this politicized approach undermines prosecutorial independence and DOJ credibility, while legal challenges make conviction uncertain.