John Brennan’s lawyers asked Chief Judge Cecilia Altonaga to block the Justice Department from steering a grand jury investigation into Brennan and other former officials to a judge they say is a Trump “favorite.” The subpoenas relate to the Obama-era intelligence assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Brennan’s team alleges improper “judge‑shopping,” pointing to efforts to move the matter from the Miami division to Fort Pierce — where Judge Aileen Cannon is the only judge — and seeks court oversight to ensure neutral assignment.
John Brennan Asks Chief Judge To Block DOJ From Steering Probe To ‘Favored’ Trump Judge
FILE - Former CIA Director John Brennan arrives for a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, May 21, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Lawyers for former CIA Director John Brennan filed a request on Monday asking Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga to prevent the Justice Department from directing a criminal grand jury probe into him and other former officials to a judge they say is a “favored” jurist of former President Donald Trump.
The filing concerns a Justice Department investigation in the Southern District of Florida tied to the U.S. intelligence community’s 2017 assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Brennan and several other former intelligence and law-enforcement officials received subpoenas last month; Brennan’s lawyers say prosecutors informed him that he is a target of the inquiry.
Allegation Of Judge‑Shopping
Brennan’s legal team accuses the Justice Department of trying to engage in “judge-shopping” by arranging for the matter to be handled by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. Cannon issued rulings favorable to Donald Trump in the classified-documents litigation and ultimately dismissed that case last year. The filing asks Judge Altonaga to exercise her supervisory authority as chief judge to ensure any litigation arising from the grand jury is assigned through the court’s neutral processes, not by prosecutorial maneuvering.
“We are seeking assurance that any litigation arising out of this grand jury proceeding will be heard by a judge who is selected by the court’s neutral and impartial processes, not by the prosecution’s self-interested maneuvering contrary to the interests of justice,” wrote attorneys Kenneth Wainstein and Natasha Harnwell-Davis.
Venue Concerns And Grand Jury Activity
Prosecutors have not publicly specified a criminal charge. The subpoenas sought documents tied to the Obama administration’s intelligence community assessment, released in January 2017, which described how Russia ran a covert influence campaign to help Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and harm Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.
Brennan’s lawyers say the Trump-era Justice Department tried multiple jurisdictions before focusing on Florida — including inquiries about Pennsylvania — and they argue Florida is an improper venue because the contested intelligence product was produced by officials in the Washington, D.C., area. The investigation is currently based in the Miami division, but the lawyers voiced concern that prosecutors may transfer the matter to the Fort Pierce division, where Judge Cannon is the only presiding judge.
As one basis for their concern, Brennan’s team pointed to a Justice Department request for an additional grand jury in Fort Pierce despite no clear caseload need. They contend that move suggests an effort to channel the probe to Cannon’s courtroom.
Context
The dispute follows a politically charged backdrop in which former President Trump has repeatedly sought to pursue officials and investigators involved in the Russia probes. The filing also notes recent high-profile actions in related matters — including a Trump-era indictment of former FBI Director James Comey for alleged false statements and obstruction that was later dismissed and faces legal obstacles.
The filing to Judge Altonaga was first reported by The New York Times. The Justice Department has not publicly explained why Florida is the appropriate venue or commented on the specifics of the grand jury’s focus.
