# Judge rejects Brennan's lawsuit over Justice Department records

> Federal judge dismisses ex-CIA director John Brennan's claim that Justice Department must preserve records for potential criminal case.
- Title: Judge rejects Brennan's lawsuit over Justice Department…
- Summary: Federal judge dismisses ex-CIA director John Brennan's claim that Justice Department must preserve records for potential criminal case. U.S. District Judge…
- Keywords: john brennan, justice department, cia, presidential election, trump administration, criminal prosecution, selective prosecution, news, local, Judge, rejects, Brennan's
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/justice-department-doesnt-have-to-save-records-from-inquiries-into-ex-cia-boss-brennan-judge-says
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: john brennan, justice department, cia, presidential election, trump administration, criminal prosecution, selective prosecution, news, local
## Judge rejects lawsuit
U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb denied John Brennan's request to force Justice Department to preserve records for potential criminal case.
## Brennan's legal claim
Brennan argued Justice Department's pattern of vindictiveness in pursuing him led to political vendetta against him.
## Court's reasoning
Judge said Brennan's allegations were too speculative and he hadn't proven Justice Department was failing to preserve relevant records.
## Brennan's background
Brennan was CIA director during Obama's final term and key figure in U.S. intelligence community's conclusion about Russian interference in 2016 election.
## Current investigations
Brennan faces Justice Department investigations into false statements before House Judiciary Committee and conspiracy to keep Trump from power.
## Defense position
Brennan's lawyer called the Justice Department's actions 'fiction' and said he'd never conceived of such a situation.
## Next steps
Brennan's attorneys will challenge any criminal prosecution on grounds of vindictive prosecution if charges are filed.
## Key takeaway

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb denied John Brennan's request to force Justice Department to save records that could prove his prosecution was politically motivated.