The U.S. Department of Justice has appointed Joseph diGenova, a longtime Trump ally and former U.S. attorney, to lead a criminal probe into former CIA Director John Brennan. DiGenova, 81, will serve as counsel to the U.S. attorney in Florida's Southern District and work out of Fort Pierce, where a grand jury is handling aspects of the case.

The move follows the abrupt removal of Maria Medetis Long, a career national security prosecutor who had led the investigation from Miami. Long was taken off the case after resisting pressure to accelerate charges against Brennan, sources told CNN. The Justice Department described the change as routine resource allocation, but it aligns with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's push to expedite high-priority cases following President Trump's firing of former Attorney General Pam Bondi over delays.

The investigation stems from a referral by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee in October 2025, alleging Brennan lied under oath about the CIA's handling of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian election interference. Specifically, Brennan is accused of falsely denying that the CIA relied on the unverified Steele dossier during the assessment's preparation and claiming opposition to its inclusion. The probe has broadened into a potential 'grand conspiracy' examining actions by former intelligence and law enforcement officials against Trump, from the 2016 Russia investigation to later cases like special counsel Jack Smith's.

DiGenova, who served as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia under President Reagan from 1983 to 1988, has represented Trump on multiple matters, including during Robert Mueller's Russia probe and 2020 election challenges. He has publicly accused Brennan of crimes related to the origins of the Russia investigation, including a 2018 Fox News appearance where he alleged collusion to frame Trump. Joining him on the team is Christopher-James DeLorenz, a former clerk to Judge Aileen Cannon, who oversees the Fort Pierce grand jury.

The case has seen prior turbulence, with two junior prosecutors resigning in November after disputes over case discussions. Brennan's attorney has previously stated there is no legal basis for the probe. The investigation, ongoing since last summer, reflects the Trump administration's focus on revisiting perceived misconduct by prior officials.