Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas Former Obama Officials in Trump-Russia Probe Origin Investigation
Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page as part of a Justice Department investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
John Brennan and other officials subpoenaed over Trump-Russia inquiry
Washington Examiner
Brennan, Page, And Strzok Subpoenaed
Daily Caller
Overview
- Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to former CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI agent Peter Strzok, and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page.
- These subpoenas are part of a Justice Department investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, led by U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones.
- The investigation is targeting top Obama administration officials, with up to 30 more subpoenas anticipated to follow in the coming days.
- The grand jury subpoenas were issued in the Southern District of Florida, specifically targeting the federal Russiagate probe's origins.
- Republican Rep. Jim Jordan and Ratcliffe referred evidence of Brennan's alleged false statements to the DOJ and FBI Director Kash Patel for potential criminal prosecution.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by portraying the DOJ probe as a politically motivated act of retaliation by Trump. They emphasize his long-standing demands and the involvement of his appointees, using language like "weaponize his FBI and Justice Department." While including counter-evidence, the narrative prioritizes Trump's grievances and the perceived political nature of the investigation.
"The sources described the investigation as Trump’s most ambitious attempt to date to weaponize his FBI and Justice Department against those he believes were out to get him dating back to after he was first elected to office in November 2016."
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FAQ
The investigation aims to examine the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, focusing on whether there were intelligence abuses or improper actions by officials during the Obama administration, particularly regarding the initiation and conduct of the investigation.
Strzok and Page were scrutinized in 2018 after the Justice Department Inspector General uncovered anti-Trump text messages exchanged between them, which raised concerns about bias in their roles on the Mueller investigation.
The Southern District of Florida grand jury is conducting a criminal investigation, and subpoenas from this body indicate that prosecutors are gathering evidence that could lead to criminal charges related to the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
John Brennan was CIA Director during the Obama administration; Peter Strzok was a top FBI counterintelligence agent and was initially on the Mueller team before being reassigned; Lisa Page was an FBI lawyer who briefly served on the Mueller team before returning to the FBI's Office of General Counsel.
The investigation could result in criminal charges if evidence of misconduct or false statements is found, or it could lead to further scrutiny of the conduct of officials involved in the Trump-Russia probe's origins.
History
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