The US FBI has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey for their roles in the investigation into Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Podle Fox News the investigation is focusing on whether Brennan and Comey abused their positions to pursue unsubstantiated allegations against then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. A key element is the so-called Steele dossier, a document created by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele that claimed Trump was working with Russian intelligence services. That dossier, funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign, was later challenged for lack of evidence.

According to Fox News, citing Justice Department sources, the FBI is investigating whether Brennan and Comey committed perjury before Congress regarding their role in the inclusion of the Steele dossier in the official 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA). Fox News quotes: "The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey over potential misconduct related to the Trump-Russia investigation". The report further states that Brennan ignored warnings from CIA experts not to include the dossier in the ICA and pushed it through anyway, undermining the credibility of the report.

Fox News has given the case considerable attention. Former CIA officer Bryan Dean Wright prohlásil: "John Brennan, my former boss at the CIA, belongs in prison.". The station also quoted a lawyer Jonathana Turleyhowho analyzed the investigation and pointed out that Brennan and Comey "deliberately tried to destroy Trump's presidency, putting the republic itself at risk". These statements reflect a strong conservative sentiment that sees the investigations as just retribution for alleged politically motivated actions against Trump.

Other details include allegations that former CIA Director John Ratcliffe turned over evidence against Brennan that led to the investigation. Reports also suggest that Comey's actions, including the use of the Steele dossier to justify the wiretapping of Trump adviser Carter Page, were problematic and led to revelations of wrongdoing in the FISA application process.

Reuters mentioned that "a criminal investigation does not necessarily lead to an indictment", indicating an early stage in the process.

While Fox News and conservative sources present the investigation as evidence of a political conspiracy against Trump, the lack of official confirmation from the FBI or the Justice Department raises questions about the credibility of the information. The Steele dossier has long been criticized for its lack of credibility, and if it is proven that Brennan and Comey intentionally pushed false information, it could have serious legal implications.

Fox News/gnews.cz - GH