A lead prosecutor in the John Brennan investigation was removed from the case Friday after expressing concerns to Justice Department officials about the strength of potential criminal charges, according to a person familiar with the matter. Maria Medetis Long, who heads the national security section at the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida, informed defense lawyers that she was no longer participating in the probe.
The departure underscores the Trump administration’s efforts to direct Justice Department investigations toward political figures opposed to the president, with newly installed leadership pledging increased presidential involvement in prosecutorial decisions.
A lead prosecutor in the Justice Department’s investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan has been removed from the case after expressing doubts about the strength of potential criminal charges, according to a person familiar with the matter. Maria Medetis Long, who heads the national security section of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida, informed defense lawyers on Friday that she was no longer participating in the investigation.
Her departure came after she conveyed concern to Justice Department officials that insufficient evidence existed for a criminal prosecution of Brennan. The Justice Department acknowledged Long’s removal but attributed it to standard practice. “As a matter of routine practice, attorneys are moved around on cases so offices can most effectively allocate resources. It is completely healthy and normal to change members of legal teams,” the department said in a statement.
The Brennan Investigation
The investigation has been examining Brennan in connection with one of President Donald Trump’s chief grievances: the government’s years-long inquiry into potential Russian ties to Trump’s 2016 campaign. Brennan served as CIA director under President Barack Obama and held the position when the intelligence community released a detailed assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The Justice Department last year received a referral from Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, asserting that Brennan gave false testimony about the preparation of that assessment. Brennan and his lawyers have vigorously denied the claim.
Investigators have issued numerous subpoenas in recent months and have been preparing additional interviews, though it remains unclear whether any charges will be brought or what effect Long’s departure will have on the investigation and witnesses’ cooperation.
Trump’s Pressure on Prosecutors
The prosecutor’s removal reflects broader shifts in how the Trump administration is handling Justice Department investigations into political figures. Trump this month replaced Attorney General Pam Bondi, expressing frustration with the pace of criminal investigations against political opponents. Todd Blanche, who replaced Bondi, is now serving as acting attorney general and has stated that Trump “has the right and duty to be involved in seeking investigations against people he has had ‘issues with.’”
This pattern has precedent. Last year, Trump forced out Erik Siebert, the acting U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, after Siebert declined to pursue criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A subsequently installed prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, secured indictments against both Comey and James. However, those cases were dismissed after a federal judge concluded that Halligan had been unlawfully appointed.
The Brennan investigation remains active, with investigators preparing for additional witness interviews, though the ultimate trajectory of the case remains uncertain.