House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has referred former CIA Director John Brennan to the Justice Department for allegedly making false statements about the use of the Steele dossier in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Jordan accused Brennan of lying during testimony by denying CIA involvement with the dossier, despite declassified documents showing Brennan approved its inclusion in the assessment. The referral follows recent declassified records suggesting Brennan overruled senior CIA officials who objected to the dossier’s use.
Jordan’s allegations include that Brennan provided false testimony during a 2017 House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, which he claims shows a pattern of Brennan’s willingness to lie to Congress about the Steele dossier. The referral also suggests Brennan may face criminal prosecution, though the five-year statute of limitations on criminal charges could impact the case. Jordan argues that Brennan’s testimony to HPSCI in 202,3 was a brazen attempt to knowingly and willfully testify falsely and fictitiously to material facts. The referral has sparked broader discussions about the role of intelligence agencies and the use of evidence in political investigations.
The Steele dossier was a series of reports detailing President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. It was compiled and delivered to the FBI in 2016 by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele. Jordan’s letter alleged subsequent investigations