Posted originally on CTH on April 24, 2026 | Sundance 

Several people have inquired about the Washington DC subpoenas for former CIA Director John Brennan being withdrawn, and what does that mean. I intentionally did not write about it at the time because I wanted to look closely at the fact pattern.

The DOJ is still planning to send requests for voluntary interviews and grand jury testimony according to media reports.

From my perspective, this is a good sign. Potentially a very good sign.

The issues around the CIA targeting President Trump are extensive, attached to numerous individuals and entities, and generally complex.  Normally, an investigation of this scope would begin with questions to the outer perimeter individuals who were carrying out the instructions of those above them.

CIA Director, John Brennan and CIA Analyst, Eric Ciaramella

It is from those types of lower-level interviews that material is gathered for use in examining the truthfulness of those who organized and directed the operations.  In the example of John Brennan’s false statements to congress surrounding the ICA (Intelligence Community Assessment), or the inclusion of the Steele Dossier in the analytical material, there are key people within the Directorate of Analysis, National Security Agency and National Intelligence Council who can give first-hand statements about Brennan’s instructions.

Those types of interviews are just as important as questioning John Brennan himself, and for obvious reasons those interviews should come first.

♦ Here is where it becomes important to remember a key thing that happened between the time the investigation of Brennan began and the arrival of investigative Asst to the AG, Joe DiGenova.

Do you remember the recent criminal referral by DNI Tulsi Gabbard for former CIA Analyst Eric Ciaramella?

BACKGROUND: Former CIA Director John Brennan was being investigated during the time that DNI Tulsi Gabbard was working on retrieving and declassifying the material surrounding the first impeachment effort against President Trump.  CIA Analyst Eric Ciaramella was the “anonymous whistleblower” that triggered the report to Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson that started the impeachment operation.

This same CIA Analyst Eric Ciaramella was also involved in the fabrication of the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, which is at the heart of the false testimony to congress that John Brennan is being investigated for.

Eric Ciaramella was criminally referred by DNI Gabbard for his actions in relation to the impeachment operation.  This sets the DOJ up with the potential for a plea agreement with Ciaramella on his impeachment conduct, in exchange for testimony against Brennan on the ICA construct.

Suddenly we see reports of DOJ Brennan subpoenas being withdrawn immediately after the DOJ criminal referral for Eric Ciaramella is introduced.

**nudge-nudge* *wink-wink** See the dynamic?

I’m not saying this is happening, but the timing is awfully coincidental, no?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas issued in the investigation of former CIA Director John Brennan, with officials asking for voluntary interviews instead of testimony before a grand jury, two people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

A small handful of subpoenas were known to have been issued over the weekend for witnesses to appear before a grand jury in Washington. But investigators on Monday evening informed lawyers that the subpoenas were being withdrawn in favor of requests for voluntary interviews, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press to discuss developments in an ongoing investigation.

The reason for the reversal in course was not immediately known.

The months-old Brennan investigation is one of several criminal probes the Justice Department has opened over the last year against President Donald Trump’s perceived adversaries. It centers on one of the Republican president’s chief grievances — a U.S. intelligence community finding that Russia interfered on his behalf during his successful 2016 presidential campaign. (read more)

TIMELINE:

Aug – Nov 2025: CTH emphasizes need for ICIG Atkinson material to get to Ciaramella/Brennan

December 2025 – Brennan attorney notified he is under investigation.

Jan – March 2026 – DNI gains access to Atkinson transcript from HPSCI

March 2026 – DNI assembled ICIG Atkinson material from Ciaramella report and investigation.

March 25 – HPSCI releases transcript to DNI.

April 13 – HPSCI released ICIG declassified transcript / DNI releases ICIG Ciaramella report.

April 15 – Eric Ciaramella criminal referral.

April 21 – Brennan witness subpoenas withdrawn.

Hopefully the timeline helps people to understand what is likely happening in the background.

I suspect, well, let’s consider, Ciaramella has been given the opportunity to cooperate as a witness in the 2017 Brennan case; perhaps in exchange for something like limited immunity in the 2019 impeachment issue.   The timeline tracks.