Federal judge dismisses Brennan's lawsuit requesting DOJ save records from investigations into him

A federal judge on Thursday declined to issue an order to direct the Justice Department to preserve all its records from investigations into former CIA Director John Brennan, which he could need if he wanted to challenge any future criminal cases against him as malicious prosecution.

Brennan sued the Trump administration in July, arguing the "evidence of vindictiveness in this matter is overwhelming," citing how President Donald Trump has, for years, criticized Brennan over an array of issues, including his support for the Russia collusion narrative surrounding the 2016 election. 

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb declined the request, ruling that Brennan's arguments were too speculative, according to the Associated Press.

“Brennan’s allegations — that he is being targeted by the Trump Administration not because of his conduct, but because he has opposed the current president — are deeply concerning,” Cobb wrote. “If he was eventually able to prove those allegations true, that would certainly suggest that his potential prosecution is vindictive. But even taking all of Brennan’s allegations to be truthful at this stage, the injury he alleges is simply too attenuated from the actions he seeks to enjoin to warrant a finding of standing here.”

Brennan has not been criminally charged or formally accused of criminal activity so far. However, House Republicans have referred him for potential prosecution on allegations that he lied to Congress.

The former CIA director is also the subject of an investigation for his role in the Russia collusion probe that has since been discredited, including a CIA assessment that Russian president Vladimir Putin tried to help President Donald Trump win the 2016 election.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.