Federal prosecutors abruptly withdrew newly issued grand jury subpoenas in a perjury investigation involving former John O. Brennan, reversing course days after compelling witness testimony, according to people familiar with the matter.
The subpoenas, served over the weekend for appearances in Washington next week, were rescinded Monday night. The move marks an uncertain turn in the inquiry into whether Brennan made false statements to Congress, according to The New York Times.
The reversal comes amid changes inside the Justice Department. Maria Medetis Long, the career prosecutor who led the case and reportedly opposed advancing it, was removed last week. She was replaced by Joseph diGenova, who was sworn in Monday to oversee the investigation. It is unclear whether he was involved in issuing the subpoenas.
Justice Department officials gave no explanation when notifying attorneys for the witnesses, the sources said. A department spokeswoman declined to comment.
The case centers on Brennan’s 2023 congressional testimony about a January 2017 intelligence assessment on Russian interference in the 2016 election, which concluded Moscow sought to boost then-candidate Donald Trump.
Before the subpoenas, several former national security officials involved in the assessment had agreed to voluntary FBI interviews. Prosecutors shifted to grand jury subpoenas over the weekend, a move that surprised some investigators, who typically favor voluntary interviews when witnesses are cooperative, especially in cases involving classified material.
By Monday evening, prosecutors appeared to return to voluntary interviews, the people said.
The investigation has also been moved from Florida to Washington, where any charges would likely be brought. A Miami-based team had previously used a grand jury primarily for document subpoenas.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche posted a photo Monday with diGenova and prosecutors, writing: “welcome to the fight, Joe!”
The broader inquiry, led by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, extends beyond Brennan and examines multiple former officials who investigated or criticized Trump, including allegations of a wider “grand conspiracy” against him.
At issue are Brennan’s statements about the Steele dossier, a discredited collection of opposition research on Trump and Russia. Brennan told lawmakers that “the C.I.A. was very much opposed to having any reference or inclusion of the Steele dossier in the intelligence community assessment.” A summary was ultimately included as an appendix.
Declassified documents later showed CIA analysts also objected to including the material as an appendix. Rep. Jim Jordan issued a criminal referral, arguing Brennan’s account was false. Brennan’s attorney has said the testimony was accurate.
With the subpoenas withdrawn, the direction of the investigation remains unclear.
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