Overview
- House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent a Oct. 21 referral to Attorney General Pam Bondi alleging John Brennan lied to Congress about the CIA’s role regarding the Steele dossier and the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment.
- The referral cites declassified CIA memoranda and a House Intelligence Committee report indicating a CIA officer drafted an ICA annex summarizing the dossier and that Brennan pushed to include its material despite internal objections.
- Jordan asks DOJ to examine potential violations of 18 U.S.C. §1001 tied to Brennan’s May 11, 2023 transcribed interview; separate 2017 statements are flagged as outside the statute of limitations but presented as a pattern.
- Brennan has denied wrongdoing, calling the move politically motivated and accusing Jordan of mischaracterizing his testimony.
- DOJ has not responded publicly; reporting says the FBI opened a criminal investigation in July 2025, and congressional referrals do not compel prosecution and face intent and timing hurdles.