Former CIA director John Brennan hires lawyers after declassified report accuses him of treason

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Former CIA Director John Brennan has hired legal representation following the declassification of a House intelligence report that accuses him of treason for his alleged role in creating the Trump-Russia collusion narrative. The report reveals that Mr. Brennan insisted on including the unverified Steele dossier in a critical December 2016 intelligence assessment despite strong opposition from senior CIA officers who argued it failed to meet basic agency standards.

The controversy centers on how Obama-era officials allegedly manipulated intelligence to support claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win. According to the declassified findings, the CIA initially determined that Russia did not substantively interfere with the 2016 election. However, this assessment changed dramatically in December 2016 when President Obama ordered a revised intelligence evaluation.

The House committee discovered that the intelligence community’s claim of Russian interference was based on extraordinarily thin evidence. The assessment relied primarily on second-hand information from a Russian spy named Oleg Smolenkov, who reported that an unnamed source said Vladimir Putin was “counting on” Trump’s victory. These two words from an unknown person became the sole basis for the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion about Russian election interference.

The Steele dossier, which was paid for by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, contained unverified and sensational allegations about Mr. Trump, including claims about compromising activities in a Moscow hotel. When CIA officers objected to including the dossier, Mr. Brennan reportedly justified its inclusion by asking, “Yes, but doesn’t it ring true?”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has referred the declassified documents to the Justice Department, accusing Mr. Brennan and other former Obama officials of “treasonous conspiracy.” The Justice Department has established a strike force to investigate how these officials launched the discredited Trump-Russia narrative. Besides Mr. Brennan, the investigation targets former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and dozens of other Obama-era officials.

The conspiracy allegedly originated during a December 9, 2016, White House meeting that included National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Mr. Brennan, Mr. Clapper, and other high-ranking officials. Information was subsequently leaked to media outlets claiming the CIA had concluded Russia had intervened to help Mr. Trump.

Both Mr. Brennan and Mr. Comey became regular television critics of President Trump after leaving government service, continuing to promote the Russia collusion narrative. Congressional leaders have announced plans for extensive hearings to investigate the matter further, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stating that lawmakers will “follow the evidence where it leads.”

Read more: Intel docs put John Brennan in crosshairs of new probe into Trump-Russia collusion hoax