DOJ Subpoenas Comey in Escalating ‘Russiagate’ Probe

The Department of Justice has issued a subpoena to former FBI Director James Comey in connection with the controversial 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian election interference—marking a major escalation in a widening investigation that already ensnares former CIA Director John Brennan.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the subpoena was issued by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida as part of an ongoing probe into how the January 2017 ICA was assembled, including whether false statements were made to Congress. Both Comey and Brennan are reportedly under criminal investigation tied to their roles in the assessment.

The ICA famously concluded that Russia sought to influence the 2016 election in favor of then-candidate Donald J. Trump—now serving as President in his second term. However, subsequent findings have cast serious doubt on the integrity of that assessment.

A declassified “lessons learned” review, released under CIA Director John Ratcliffe, revealed that the ICA process was rushed and plagued by what officials described as “procedural anomalies.” More troubling, the review found that the inclusion of the now-discredited Steele dossier “ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment.”

The dossier—funded by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee through Fusion GPS—has since been widely debunked. Yet records show Brennan pushed aggressively to include it in the ICA despite internal warnings that it amounted to little more than “internet rumor.”

Ratcliffe later referred Brennan to the FBI for potential criminal review. Under the leadership of FBI Director Kash Patel, investigators expanded the inquiry to include both Brennan and Comey, with sources suggesting that interactions among top intelligence officials could rise to the level of a “conspiracy.”

Newly declassified documents also expose significant internal disagreements in the final weeks of the Obama administration. A December 8, 2016, Presidential Daily Brief prepared for then-President Barack Obama stated that Russian actors “did not impact recent US election results by conducting malicious cyber activities against election infrastructure,” and concluded it was “highly unlikely” such actions would have changed any state’s vote outcome.

Despite this, the FBI drafted a formal dissent and objected to the brief’s release. Declassified communications show the Office of the Director of National Intelligence delayed publication following unspecified “new guidance.”

The following day, December 9, 2016, top officials—including then-DNI James Clapper, Brennan, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe—convened in the White House Situation Room to coordinate a response.

After that meeting, intelligence agencies were directed to produce a new assessment “per the president’s request.” The result was the January 6, 2017 ICA, which concluded that Russia acted to benefit Trump—a finding that critics argue directly contradicted earlier intelligence assessments.

Officials familiar with the later review say the ICA omitted key intelligence indicating Russia lacked both the intent and capability to alter election outcomes through cyberattacks. They also point to earlier low-confidence judgments from the FBI and NSA regarding attribution of certain leaks to Russia—concerns that were not fully reflected in the final report.

The ICA went on to serve as the backbone for years of investigations, including Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, congressional inquiries, and relentless political attacks questioning the legitimacy of President Trump’s victory.

Now, with Comey under subpoena, federal prosecutors appear to be taking a far more aggressive approach—seeking answers on whether intelligence standards were deliberately compromised and whether senior Obama-era officials misled Congress and the American public.

The Justice Department has not yet issued a public statement on the investigation.