Justice Department Issues New Subpoenas in Trump-Russia Probe Investigation
New subpoenas issued as Justice Department investigates alleged intelligence community conspiracy against Trump, sources say.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, United States — The Justice Department has begun issuing new grand jury subpoenas as part of an ongoing investigation into claims of a conspiracy within the intelligence community against former President Donald Trump, according to multiple informed sources.
The move marks a significant escalation in a year-long probe that seeks to uncover whether intelligence officials who scrutinized Trump over the past decade, including those involved in the 2016 election interference inquiry, acted improperly and violated his rights.
Recent communications with defense attorneys have revealed that some witnesses are being notified of upcoming subpoenas, though the exact number and identities of those targeted remain unclear. Officials involved in the secretive process have requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case.
The investigation focuses on the U.S. government’s response to Russian interference during the 2016 election, particularly the intelligence community’s assessment that Moscow supported Trump at the direction of President Vladimir Putin. Trump has long criticized these findings, calling them part of a broader ‘deep state’ plot to undermine his presidency.
While investigators have conducted voluntary interviews, the recent subpoenas signal a shift toward securing sworn testimony from key individuals. It is still uncertain whether any charges will be filed or what offenses they might involve. However, legal representatives for former CIA Director John Brennan have indicated he is a target of the probe, with allegations that he provided false testimony to Congress—claims he has consistently denied.
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The Justice Department recently withdrew similar subpoenas in favor of voluntary interviews, but the current effort suggests a more aggressive approach. The investigation is being led from Florida, where top prosecutor Joe diGenova, a Reagan-era official, has been brought back to assist in the case.
diGenova, who previously sought a role in the investigation and publicly claimed Trump was a victim of an intelligence conspiracy, declined to comment when contacted by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, his team has reportedly sought interviews with law enforcement involved in the 2022 FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, which uncovered classified documents.
Investigators have based their operations in Fort Pierce, Florida, where U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, has shown skepticism toward the classified documents case against him. Lawyers for Brennan have previously challenged the location of the investigation, arguing that Cannon favors Trump and could hinder a fair prosecution.
Trump took office in 2017 under intense scrutiny over potential collusion with Russia, which stole and released Democratic emails through WikiLeaks. While the FBI and Justice Department found no conclusive evidence of a criminal conspiracy, they did note that the Trump campaign may have benefited from Moscow’s actions.
Subsequent reviews by inspectors and prosecutors identified procedural errors in the Russia probe but found no criminal misconduct by senior officials or an anti-Trump conspiracy. Frustrated by these outcomes, Trump pushed for retribution, leading the Justice Department to use a grand jury last year following the release of documents questioning the legitimacy of the Trump-Russia inquiry.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
