DOJ Removes Top Prosecutor Questioning Case Against Former CIA Director

Veteran prosecutor Maria Medetis Long told colleagues there was not enough evidence to bring charges against John Brennan.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:48am

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A fractured, abstract painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and waves of dark blue, navy, and charcoal grey, representing the chaotic and politically-charged nature of the investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan.The DOJ's removal of the lead prosecutor in the Brennan investigation raises concerns about political interference in high-profile cases.Today in Miami

The Justice Department has removed the lead prosecutor overseeing an investigation involving former CIA Director John Brennan, a longtime critic of former President Donald Trump. Maria Medetis Long, a veteran prosecutor for the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of Florida, told colleagues in her office that she had recently informed her superiors there was not ample justification to bring criminal charges against Brennan. She also told colleagues she expected to withdraw from the case.

Why it matters

This move by the DOJ raises questions about the political motivations behind the investigation into Brennan, a vocal Trump critic, and whether the department is trying to suppress findings that could be unfavorable to the former president or his allies.

The details

Medetis Long had agreed weeks ago to help her boss, Miami U.S. Attorney Jason Quinones, probe possible law violations tied to how former President Barack Obama's Justice Department opened the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Medetis Long was specifically focused on probing allegations that Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, referred to the Department of Justice in 2025, claiming he had evidence suggesting Brennan made false statements to Congress in 2023 about that investigation and his role.

  • Medetis Long told colleagues weeks ago she would be helping with the investigation.
  • Medetis Long informed her superiors recently that there was not enough evidence to bring charges against Brennan.
  • Medetis Long sent an email on Thursday notifying attorneys she would no longer be working on the investigation.

The players

Maria Medetis Long

A veteran prosecutor for the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of Florida who was leading the investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan.

Jason Quinones

The Miami U.S. Attorney who Medetis Long was working with on the investigation.

John Brennan

The former CIA Director who was the subject of the DOJ investigation.

Jim Jordan

A Republican Congressman from Ohio who referred evidence to the DOJ in 2025 suggesting Brennan made false statements to Congress in 2023.

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What they’re saying

“There was not ample justification to bring criminal charges against Brennan.”

— Maria Medetis Long, Veteran Prosecutor

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding investigations into former Trump critics and the perceived influence of partisan politics on the Justice Department's decision-making process.