New Subpoenas Issued in Probe of 2016 Russian Election Interference

Justice Department investigation focuses on Trump's political opponents and government response

Feb. 19, 2026 at 7:31pm

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The Justice Department has issued new subpoenas in a Florida-based investigation into perceived adversaries of former President Donald Trump and the U.S. government's response to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The subpoenas seek documents related to the preparation of a 2017 intelligence community assessment that detailed Russia's efforts to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.

Why it matters

The new subpoenas reflect continued investigative activity into Trump's political opponents, raising concerns about potential political motivations behind the probe. The intelligence assessment concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump, a finding that has long been a source of grievance for the former president.

The details

The initial wave of subpoenas in November 2022 requested documents related to the preparation of the 2017 intelligence assessment. The latest subpoenas seek any records from the years since then. The investigation is based in Florida and has involved an array of former intelligence and law enforcement officials, including former CIA Director John Brennan, who helped oversee the drafting of the assessment.

  • The initial subpoenas were issued in November 2022.
  • The latest subpoenas were issued in February 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

Former President of the United States who has long criticized the government's response to Russian interference in the 2016 election.

John Brennan

Former CIA Director who helped oversee the drafting of the 2017 intelligence assessment on Russian interference and has been a target of the investigation.

James Comey

Former FBI Director who was indicted by the Trump administration Justice Department last year on false statement and obstruction charges, but the case was later dismissed.

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What they’re saying

“While it is mystifying how the prosecutors could possibly believe there is any legally justifiable basis for undertaking this investigation, they have done nothing to explain that mystery.”

— John Brennan's lawyers

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow John Brennan to be compelled to testify before the grand jury.

The takeaway

This investigation appears to be politically motivated, targeting Trump's perceived opponents in the aftermath of the 2016 election. The continued scrutiny of the intelligence community's findings on Russian interference raises concerns about the integrity of the probe and the potential for abuse of power.