Top Prosecutor Removed from Probe into Former CIA Director Brennan

Attorneys for subjects involved in the investigation were surprised by the sudden change in leadership.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:29pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office or courtroom, with warm diagonal sunlight casting deep shadows, conveying a sense of political tension and uncertainty.The abrupt change in leadership for the high-profile investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan has created an air of political unease and unanswered questions.Miami Today

A top career prosecutor in Miami has been removed from overseeing the Justice Department's investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan. Attorneys for several subjects involved in the probe were informed that Maria Medetis Long would no longer be handling the case, which is believed to center around Brennan's congressional testimony about Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

Why it matters

The probe of Brennan is part of a larger investigation examining whether former officials engaged in a 'grand conspiracy' to violate Trump's rights dating back to his 2016 campaign. The removal of the lead prosecutor has taken some attorneys by surprise and raises questions about the direction and viability of the investigation.

The details

The news of Medetis Long's departure from the Brennan investigation was first reported by CNN. The investigation is believed to focus on Brennan's congressional testimony about the intelligence community's 2017 assessment of Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump's candidacy. Trump has long singled out Brennan, a vocal critic, as among those he believes was involved in illegally conspiring against him.

  • The Justice Department informed attorneys for subjects involved in the probe on Friday that Medetis Long would no longer be handling the case.
  • Additional interviews were scheduled in the coming days as the department moves closer toward deciding whether to bring charges against Brennan.

The players

Maria Medetis Long

A top career prosecutor in Miami who was previously overseeing the Justice Department's investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan.

John Brennan

The former CIA Director who is the subject of the Justice Department's investigation, which is believed to center around his congressional testimony about Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

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What’s next

The Justice Department is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks on whether to bring charges against Brennan as a result of this investigation.

The takeaway

The sudden removal of the lead prosecutor in the investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan has raised questions about the direction and viability of the probe, which is part of a larger effort examining potential wrongdoing by former officials involved in the Russia investigation during the Trump presidency.