WASHINGTON — A senior federal prosecutor leading the investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan was taken off the case following her concerns about whether criminal charges could be successfully pursued, according to a source with knowledge of the situation who spoke Friday.
Maria Medetis Long informed defense attorneys working on the investigation that she would no longer be involved in the Brennan case. Her removal occurred after she raised questions about whether prosecutors had adequate evidence to build a criminal case against Brennan, the source told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of internal Justice Department discussions.
While the Justice Department confirmed that Medetis Long is no longer working on the investigation, officials declined to provide details about why she was removed. In a statement, the department explained that “as a matter of routine practice, attorneys are moved around on cases so offices can most effectively allocate resources. It is completely healthy and normal to change members of legal teams.”
CNN was first to report on Medetis Long’s removal from the case. She has not responded to requests for comment via email and phone.
Medetis Long heads the national security division at the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida, which has been examining Brennan for months as part of one of President Donald Trump’s primary complaints — the federal government’s previous investigation into possible connections between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Brennan led the CIA under President Barack Obama and held that role when intelligence agencies released a comprehensive report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The Justice Department received a referral last year from Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican leader of the House Judiciary Committee, claiming that Brennan provided false testimony regarding the creation of that intelligence assessment — allegations that Brennan and his legal team have strongly disputed.
Federal investigators have recently issued numerous subpoenas and are preparing for more witness interviews in the investigation, though it’s uncertain whether any criminal charges will result or how Medetis Long’s exit might affect the case or witness cooperation.
Trump recently replaced Pam Bondi as attorney general, expressing frustration over the slow pace of criminal investigations targeting political adversaries including Brennan.
Todd Blanche, Bondi’s deputy who is now serving as acting attorney general, has stated that Trump has both the authority and responsibility to pursue investigations of individuals he has had “issues with.”
In a previous incident last year, Trump effectively pushed out Erik Siebert, the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, after Siebert declined to pursue criminal charges against two other Trump critics — former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. A replacement prosecutor loyal to Trump, Lindsey Halligan, was quickly installed and obtained indictments against both Comey and James, but the cases were dismissed when a judge ruled that Halligan’s appointment was illegal.
