Former CIA Director John Brennan arrives for a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, May 21, 2019. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)<\/small><\/p>\n
2026-04-18T00:23:16Z<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 A lead prosecutor in the John Brennan<\/a><\/span> investigation has been removed from the case after expressing concerns to Justice Department officials about the legal strength of a potential criminal prosecution of the former CIA director, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.<\/p>\n Maria Medetis Long told defense lawyers involved in the investigation that she was no longer participating in the Brennan investigation. Her departure from the investigation came after she conveyed doubt that there was sufficient evidence for a criminal case against Brennan, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss internal Justice Department conversations.<\/p>\n The Justice Department did not dispute that Medetis Long was no longer part of the investigation but also did not elaborate on the circumstances of her departure. The department said in a statement that \u201cas 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.\u201d<\/p>\n CNN first reported Medetis Long\u2019s departure from the investigation. She referred a request for comment to a spokesperson for her office, who did not immediately provide a statement.<\/p>\n Medetis Long heads the national security section at the U.S. Attorney\u2019s office for the Southern District of Florida, which for months has been scrutinizing Brennan<\/a><\/span> in connection with one of President Donald Trump\u2019s chief grievances \u2014 the U.S. government\u2019s years-old investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump\u2019s 2016 campaign<\/a><\/span> for the White House.<\/p>\n