Victor Davis Hanson: John Brennan Has Himself to Blame for FBI Investigation

Recent reports from Pam Bondi in the Trump Department of Justice indicate an ongoing investigation into the careers of James Comey and John Brennan. James Comey served as the FBI director, and John Brennan headed the CIA during the Obama administration, with Comey continuing into the first year of the Trump presidency. This investigation has sparked considerable controversy, particularly concerning John Brennan's alleged involvement in several major scandals. Critics argue that Brennan played a central role in framing the narrative of Russian collusion hoax, which some believe significantly impacted the 2016 presidential election. The claim suggests that Brennan and his associates propagated the idea that Donald Trump was colluding with Vladimir Putin, thereby poisoning U.S.-Russia relations and potentially contributing to the current geopolitical issues, including the Ukraine War. The investigation seeks to uncover the extent of their culpability in these events, especially given Brennan's history of controversial actions and statements while in public service.

John Brennan's Controversial Career

John Brennan's career in government has been marked by several controversies and shifts in stance. Victor Davis Hanson points out Brennan's initial opposition to waterboarding and enhanced interrogation techniques used under the George W. Bush administration, particularly those at Guantanamo Bay. However, Hanson suggests that Brennan's views appeared to change to align with the Obama administration, which eventually led to his appointment as CIA director. Once appointed, he began publicly criticizing President George Bush, whom he had previously served. Brennan also began espousing views on Islam, portraying it as a "religion of peace," seemingly to further align himself for his eventual appointment by President Obama. This perceived opportunism is a recurring theme in the criticisms against him.

Furthermore, Brennan has been accused of making false statements while in office. For example, he claimed before Congress and the media that no civilians were killed by Obama's targeted assassination program conducted via drones on the Afghan or Pakistan border. This claim was later contradicted by reports indicating 50 to 75 innocent lives were lost. In another incident, Brennan was accused of tapping the computers of Senate staffers. He vehemently denied this, only to be later forced to admit he had lied. Despite these admitted falsehoods, no perjury charges were brought against him, raising questions about accountability within the intelligence community.

The Russian Collusion Hoax and its Impact

One of the most significant controversies surrounding John Brennan is his alleged central role in propagating the Russian collusion narrative. This narrative, according to critics, was a "hoax" designed to undermine the Donald Trump presidency and potentially sway the 2016 election in favor of Hillary Clinton. Hanson suggests that this "spurious narrative" poisoned U.S.-Russia relations, impacting not only the domestic political landscape but also international affairs. The Mueller investigation, which stemmed from these allegations, is cited as an example of the significant disruption caused, costing the Trump administration 22 months of its first two years and $40 million, ultimately finding no evidence of collusion.

You could make the argument that the Russian collusion hoax almost swung the relation the election to Hillary Clinton. You could argue that the Mueller investigation based on that stupid dossier cost Donald Trump 22 months of his first two years in office $40 million to find nothing.

The Hunter Biden Laptop Scandal

The Hunter Biden laptop controversy in October 2020, on the eve of a critical presidential debate, is highlighted as another instance where Brennan's actions allegedly impacted political outcomes. As details about the laptop's contents emerged—including pornography, drug use, and references to Joe Biden—future Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other campaign aides reportedly contacted Michael Morrell, then interim CIA Director, to gather intelligence officials. Fifty-one intelligence authorities subsequently issued a statement claiming the laptop had "all the hallmarks of Russian information." This statement was strategically used by Joe Biden during the debate to counter Donald Trump’s accusations that the laptop was genuine and implicated the Biden family in corrupt activities. Despite the FBI possessing an authenticated laptop and social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook suppressing news about its authenticity collaborating with the FBI, the public was led to believe it was Russian disinformation. A poll by Technometrica later suggested that if the public had known the laptop was authentic, it could have potentially altered the election outcome.

Accusations of Treason Against Donald Trump

Brennan further intensified his criticism of Donald Trump by accusing him of being a "Russian traitor" following Trump's statements on Russian-American relationships in Helsinki. This accusation of treason faced strong counter-arguments. Under the Trump administration, actions taken against Russia included killing the Wagner Group in Syria, increasing sanctions on oligarchs, and approving offensive weapons to Ukraine that the Obama administration had previously canceled. Notably, Russia did not invade Ukraine during Trump's presidency, unlike under previous administrations (Georgia under Bush, and both Biden and Obama regarding Crimea). Trump also advised Germany against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and withdrew from an asymmetrical missile deal, all actions perceived as strong stances against Russia. Critics argue that Brennan's claims were baseless and served to further a biased narrative rather than reflect the reality of Trump's foreign policy.

Assessment of Culpability

Victor Davis Hanson concludes that John Brennan bears significant culpability for his actions and statements, which he believes have had profound negative impacts on U.S. history. Hanson suggests Brennan's anger over losing his security clearance—which he reportedly used to secure a well-paying position as an MSNBC analyst—is misplaced. Instead, Hanson argues that Brennan should be more concerned about potential indictment and imprisonment due to his alleged involvement in fabricating information and being at the heart of multiple scandals. The video implies that these actions contributed to a tainted political climate, influenced electoral outcomes, and fostered a false narrative that damaged critical international relationships, particularly with Russia, leading to long-term consequences such as the current conflict in Ukraine.

Takeaways

Ongoing Investigations: The Trump Department of Justice is investigating James Comey and John Brennan for their conduct during their tenures as FBI director and CIA head, respectively.
Brennan's Shifting Stances: John Brennan is accused of changing his views on issues like enhanced interrogation and Islam to align with the political climate and secure appointments, later criticizing those he previously served.
False Statements: Brennan has allegedly made multiple false statements, including denying civilian casualties from drone strikes and lying about tapping Senate computers, without facing perjury charges.
Russian Collusion Narrative: He is implicated in perpetuating the "Russian collusion hoax," which allegedly aimed to influence the 2016 election and poisoned U.S.-Russia relations, leading to the lengthy and costly Mueller investigation.
Hunter Biden Laptop Scandal: Brennan and 51 intelligence officials signed a statement suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop had "all the hallmarks of Russian information," influencing the 2020 election debate despite the FBI possessing an authenticated laptop.
Accusations of Treason: Brennan accused Donald Trump of treason for his approach to Russia, despite Trump's administration taking several strong actions against Russia, such as increasing sanctions and providing weapons to Ukraine.
Accountability: Critics argue John Brennan should be held accountable, potentially facing indictment, for his role in propagating false narratives and being at the center of significant scandals that impacted U.S. history and foreign policy.