Former CIA Director John Brennan said there remains a “legion” of career officials inside federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies who are refusing to participate in actions they believe fall outside the lawful responsibilities of their institutions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Former CIA Director John Brennan said during a televised interview that career personnel within the Department of Justice, the CIA, and other federal agencies are continuing to resist what he characterized as politically motivated directives tied to the Trump administration.
During an appearance on MSNBC with anchor Nicolle Wallace, Brennan responded to questions about whether institutional safeguards still exist within federal agencies to counter actions viewed by critics as politically driven.
According to reporting by The Gateway Pundit, Wallace accused President Donald Trump of transforming the Department of Justice and FBI into political tools aligned with his administration.
Wallace asked Brennan, “What still exists in the system to slow that down?”
“There’s still a legion of professionals in the law enforcement environment, Department of Justice, as well as the CIA and other places,” Brennan replied.
Brennan said those individuals were “refusing to follow politically motivated prosecutions” and declining to support “political activities” that he argued conflict with the legal authorities and responsibilities of federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
“The ones who are refusing to follow politically motivated prosecutions, those who are refusing to support any type of political activities in the part of the Trump administration that are inconsistent with the authorities, the responsibilities of the intelligence community, law enforcement community, and Department of Justice,” Brennan said during the interview.
Brennan added that he believes career officials and federal courts remain critical institutional checks.
“So, we have to rely on these individuals to stand up to their professional responsibilities and also to courts, to the judges,” Brennan said.
He also warned that current political conflicts involving federal institutions could have long-term consequences.
“What has happened to our institutions is really going to have longstanding damage to these institutions,” Brennan said.
The interview comes as Brennan reportedly remains under scrutiny related to a grand jury investigation tied to the origins of the Russiagate investigation.
Reports last year indicated that Brennan and former James Comey were under FBI investigation regarding their roles in matters connected to the Russia collusion probe launched during the 2016 presidential election cycle.
Current John Ratcliffe reportedly referred Brennan and Comey for possible prosecution last summer. The investigation is being overseen by U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones in the Southern District of Florida.
The renewed focus on Brennan and other former intelligence officials comes amid ongoing political disputes over the origins of the Russiagate investigation, the use of federal law enforcement powers, and allegations involving political bias within intelligence and justice agencies.
Original article
Comments