President Donald Trump has expressed strong criticism of former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey, following reports of ongoing criminal investigations into their actions related to the Trump-Russia probe. The investigations, first reported by Fox News Digital, are examining potential wrongdoing, including whether Brennan made false statements to Congress. During a meeting with African leaders at the White House, Trump was asked by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy about his thoughts on the matter. Trump described Brennan and Comey as “crooked as hell” and suggested they might need to “pay a price” for their actions.

Justice Department sources have indicated that CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred evidence of Brennan’s alleged misconduct to FBI Director Kash Patel, prompting the investigation. Although details remain scarce, the investigation into Brennan reportedly includes his involvement in the creation of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), which claimed Russian interference in the 2016 election aimed to benefit Trump. A recent review found procedural anomalies in the ICA’s creation and criticized the inclusion of the Steele Dossier, which has been discredited.

The investigation into Comey is also underway, though specifics are not yet disclosed. Sources have described the interactions between Brennan and Comey as potentially conspiratorial, opening up various prosecutorial avenues. Both the FBI and CIA have declined to comment on these developments.

Trump has consistently accused Brennan and Comey of politicizing intelligence to undermine his presidency, labeling their actions as part of a “Russia hoax.” The investigations come after Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Additionally, a separate investigation by Special Counsel John Durham into the FBI’s handling of the “Crossfire Hurricane” probe revealed significant errors but no illegal conduct by senior FBI officials.

In May 2025, Trump criticized a social media post by Comey that many interpreted as inciting violence against him. Comey later deleted the post, claiming he was unaware of its potential interpretation.