House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has called on the Justice Department to consider criminal charges against former CIA Director John Brennan. Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, accuses Brennan of lying to Congress regarding the Steele dossier’s influence in a 2017 intelligence assessment concerning Russian interference in the U.S. election. He characterized Brennan’s recent testimony as “willfully and intentionally false,” asserting that it contradicts CIA records and findings from the House Intelligence Committee.
In a letter to the Justice Department, Jordan emphasized that making false statements before Congress constitutes a crime that hinders the legislative body’s oversight responsibilities. His statements come amid a broader effort by former President Donald Trump and his supporters to target political adversaries through the legal system. Critics have described this strategy as a campaign of retribution, with Trump pressuring prosecutors to bring charges against figures such as former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, all of whom are linked to prior investigations into Trump.
Legal experts warn that Trump’s actions are undermining the independence of the Justice Department, turning it into a tool for political retribution. Despite these concerns, Trump’s supporters argue that he is ensuring accountability for officials who allegedly misused their positions during inquiries into his 2016 campaign.
The Steele dossier itself—compiled in 2016 by former British spy Christopher Steele—has been a contentious subject. Initially commissioned by a research firm funded by Democrats, the dossier included unverified claims about Trump’s connections to Russia, suggesting the Kremlin held compromising information. Although portions of the dossier influenced the FBI’s early investigations into Russian interference, many allegations have remained unverified or have been discredited. U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, but the dossier’s more sensational claims regarding personal or financial blackmail have not been substantiated.
As legal battles unfold and political divisions deepen in Washington, concerns grow that the criminal justice system may be manipulated for political ends as the nation approaches the 2026 election season.