By Maribel Velazquez
He United States Department of Justice (DOJ) removed a key prosecutor in the investigation against the former CIA director, John Brennanamid growing political pressures linked to President Donald Trump’s environment.
According to information published by CNN, the career federal prosecutor Maria Medetis Prolonged stopped being in charge of the case after resisting for months to expedite the filing of charges against Brennan. The decision was communicated to the lawyers involved last Friday, according to sources close to the process.
The investigation revolves around the 2017 intelligence assessment, which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Brennan has been one of Trump’s most visible critics, making the case a highly political issue.
According to the aforementioned media, Prosecutors and investigators had expressed doubts about the strength of the casewhich would have motivated their caution. Even so, they continued with procedures such as interviewing witnesses and issuing subpoenas, which indicated that the investigation was still ongoing, although without the pace that some sectors demanded.
The Medetis Prolonged relay was assembled in a context of internal changes in the Department of Justice. Following the departure of former public prosecutor Pam Bondi, acting public prosecutor Todd Blanche would have intensified efforts to advance cases considered a priority by the president.
Sources cited by the same medium indicate that DOJ officials considered the estimated time for a possible indictment “unacceptable”which could extend for several more months. This difference in criteria would have been decisive in the decision to remove the prosecutor.
The case also involves allegations that Brennan lied to Congress during his testimony about Russian interference. At that time, the former CIA director stated that Moscow actively intervened in the electoral process, although he avoided claiming that there was direct collusion with the Trump campaign.
Later investigations did not find conclusive evidence of conspiracy between Trump’s team and Russia, although they did not completely rule out possible irregularities either.
So far, neither the Justice Department nor Brennan’s legal representatives have issued public comments on the relief.
Keep reading:
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