Jordan Refers Brennan to DOJ Over Steele Dossier

House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan formally referred former CIA Director John Brennan to the Justice Department on Oct. 21, alleging Brennan knowingly and willfully lied in May 2023 about the CIA’s involvement with the Steele dossier and urging prosecution under 18 U.S.C. §1001. Jordan’s referral cites newly declassified House Intelligence Committee (HPSCI) and CIA materials that he says contradict Brennan’s denials and his claimed opposition to including dossier material in the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment. The letter points to multiple alleged false statements, including statements from a 2017 hearing that may be time-barred. Brennan, who has denied wrongdoing and is an NBC/MSNBC commentator, has long been a target of Republican scrutiny as part of a broader effort to probe Obama-era intelligence actions. Legal observers note congressional criminal referrals often carry limited weight with prosecutors, and the politically charged context makes whether the referral will lead to charges uncertain.