A Biden-appointed judge dismissed former CIA Director John Brennan’s lawsuit against President Donald Trump and senior administration officials, ruling that his concerns about the potential destruction of evidence needed for a future criminal defense were too «speculative.»

The dismissal comes as Brennan faces two federal investigations, including a Justice Department probe into whether former intelligence officials conspired to violate Trump’s civil rights through investigations into alleged ties between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. 

A separate investigation is examining whether Brennan made false statements during 2023 congressional testimony about the Steele dossier’s role in a 2017 intelligence assessment of Russian interference in the presidential election.

FORMER CIA DIRECTOR BRENNAN SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY IN FEDERAL TRUMP CONSPIRACY CASE

Trump has repeatedly accused Brennan, President Barack Obama and other former intelligence officials of orchestrating the «Russia collusion hoax,» but they have rejected those accusations, claiming that the administration is attempting to discredit legitimate intelligence findings about Russian interference in the 2016 election.

While Judge Jia Cobb called Brennan’s allegations that the Trump administration was targeting him for opposing the president «deeply concerning,» she ruled that he lacked standing to sue because he had not shown that officials were likely destroying records relevant to a potential defense, and the injury he feared depended on a series of events that had not yet occurred.

«For Brennan’s constitutional injury to actually accrue, a series of dominoes must fall, and Defendants’ deletion of records is just one of those dominoes,» Cobb wrote. 

«There is no dispute about this: Defendants describe this domino chain in their motion to dismiss … and Brennan accepts it in his response.»

Brennan has been identified as a target in two federal investigations that have involved three grand jury inquiries — two in the Southern District of Florida and one in Washington, D.C. — but he has not been charged with a crime. The former CIA director was subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, Oct. 15, though his scheduled appearance was postponed.

Brennan filed his lawsuit naming Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Todd Blanche, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other officials July 1, 2026. The 46-page lawsuit accused the Justice Department of handling its investigation into Brennan with «unprecedented, irregular conduct» that was driven by the «president’s retribution agenda.»

DELETED EMAIL DETAILS ALLEGED TRUMP-TARGETING PUSH INSIDE LETITIA JAMES’ OFFICE: ‘FIND AND PURSUE CRIMES’

Brennan argued that key evidence could disappear before he had a chance to challenge any future indictment. He pointed to deleted social media posts, the administration’s use of Signal and other messaging tools with auto-delete features, unpreserved texts and direct messages, AI queries, Microsoft Teams chats and alleged failures to preserve discovery in other cases, including the prosecution of Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J. 

He said the loss of those records could make it harder to determine whether the investigations were based on legitimate law enforcement concerns or political retaliation.

«With this lawsuit, Director Brennan has served notice that the government’s conduct and its document preservation will be carefully scrutinized in the event of any future indictment,» Brennan’s lawyers, Ken Wainstein and Dan Gelber, told the AP.

«Director Brennan will continue to vigorously defend himself against these baseless investigations, and he will challenge any attempt to use the criminal justice system for personal and political retribution.» 

The lawsuit also pointed to what it described as irregularities in the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation.

It cited the removal of longtime DOJ prosecutor Maria Medetis Long, who was reportedly taken off the Brennan investigation in April 2026 after expressing doubts about the strength of the case, as evidence of what it described as irregular conduct. She was replaced by Trump ally Joseph diGenova, who later resigned from his role overseeing the investigation amid reported internal disagreements over the handling of the case.

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOMINATE ACTING AG TODD BLANCHE TO PERMANENTLY LEAD JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Brennan’s attorneys accused the Justice Department of «judge-shopping» by trying to steer grand jury proceedings toward Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce, Florida, rather than allowing the case to proceed through the court’s normal assignment process. They also questioned why prosecutors were pursuing the investigation in Florida when much of the allegations occurred in Washington, D.C.

The complaint also accused DOJ and FBI leaders of improperly discussing details of the investigations publicly, raising questions about whether officials disclosed information that should have remained confidential.

It cited Attorney General Todd Blanche’s statements that DOJ had issued «200 grand jury subpoenas» and was investigating a «pattern of behavior» to «destroy» Trump, as well as FBI Director Kash Patel’s public discussion of the investigations and their targets.

Digital reached out to the Justice Department for comment.

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Los principales indicadores de Wall Street cerraron en baja este viernes, arrastrados por las acciones tecnológicas y las dudas sobre las valuaciones vinculadas a la inteligencia artificial. El Dow Jones de Industriales cedió 0,3%, mientras que el panel tecnológico Nasdaq cayó 2,1 por ciento.

El índice de referencia S&P 500 perdió 1,1%, ya que la preocupación por el sector de la inteligencia artificial ejerció presión sobre las acciones de software y semiconductores. Las bajas en tecnología contrastaron con el avance del sector de salud, que alcanzó máximos históricos.

CoreWeave, respaldada por Nvidia, sufrió la salida de fondos ante la persistente preocupación por el elevado endeudamiento del operador de centros de datos. La acción había rebotado el jueves luego de que Jensen Huang, director ejecutivo de Nvidia, expresara optimismo sobre la compañía.

Otras empresas de “neocloud”, como Nebius Group e Iren, también operaron en baja en una sesión marcada por la cautela sobre las firmas vinculadas a la expansión de infraestructura para inteligencia artificial.

El sector de los semiconductores volvió a perder terreno tras una semana volátil. El índice general de chips cedió, en un contexto de revisión de las apuestas que habían impulsado este año el avance de las compañías asociadas a la inteligencia artificial.

El S&P 500 y el Nasdaq registraron pérdidas semanales de 1,95% y 4,4%, respectivamente, mientras que el Dow Jones obtuvo una leve alza de 0,5 por ciento.

El S&P 500 y el Nasdaq registran pérdidas semanales de 2% y 4,5% respectivamente, mientras que el Dow Jones obtuvo una leve alza de 0,5%

El S&P 500 y el Nasdaq cerraron una semana negativa después de la venta de acciones de chips registrada en las ruedas previas.

La mayoría de las acciones de gran capitalización también registraron caídas: Meta cedió 3,7%, lo que presionó al sector de servicios de comunicaciones y al Nasdaq. Tesla, en cambio, cayó 2,1% tras presentar un rediseño de su modelo Roadster, dado que las expectativas sobre el balance trimestral que se conocerá la semana próxima pesó más que el llamativo lanzamiento.

El retroceso de las acciones de chips de memoria a principios de esta semana, debido al temor por la competencia china y a la preocupación por la deuda de CoreWeave, “proporcionó a los inversores una excusa para reducir su exposición a todas las empresas relacionadas con la IA”, dijo a Reuters David Morrison, analista senior de mercados de Trade Nation.

“Un tono más cauto ensaya Wall Street en la última rueda de la semana, aún a tiro de los máximos mientras navega a diario los vaivenes de los ¨headlines¨, lo cual condiciona a los activos domésticos, toda vez que siguen rehenes del humor externo y pesan los factores idiosincráticos», comentó el economista Gustavo Ber.

Vector Investments observó “un contraste entre la persistencia de la inflación estadounidense y una moderación reciente de los rendimientos de sus bonos. Los indicadores de precios de septiembre, publicados el miércoles y el jueves, sorprendieron al alza; sin embargo, los mensajes de la Reserva Federal mantienen abierta la evaluación sobre el ritmo de eventuales ajustes monetarios. La respuesta de los mercados no depende únicamente de los datos de inflación, sino también de las perspectivas de crecimiento y financiamiento”.

El S&P 500 y el Nasdaq cerraron la semana con pérdidas, condicionados por el retroceso del sector tecnológico y de las empresas relacionadas con la inteligencia artificial. El Dow Jones de Industriales, por su parte, concluyó el período con una variación acotada.

Los informes de esta semana sobre la inflación de los precios al consumo y al productor, más altos de lo esperado, confirmaron que las presiones sobre los precios se estaban traspasando desde la energía a otros productos.

En tanto, los precios del petróleo subieron más de 3% y anotaron ganancias semanales por la incertidumbre sobre el suministro en Oriente Medio. El mercado reaccionó a la escalada de los ataques de Irán en el estrecho de Ormuz.

Los futuros del crudo Brent del Mar del Norte treparon 3,5%, a USD 109,67 el barril para entregar en diciembre, mientras que los futuros del crudo WTI (West Texas Intermediate) de Estados Unidos avanzaron 3,8%, a USD 101,72 el barril para noviembre.

North America

A Texas Democratic congressional candidate’s campaign reported more than $4,300 in spending on cookies, Mexican restaurant purchases and beer and wine earlier this year, according to federal election records, drawing renewed attention after a heated debate in which she apologized for a remark about her Republican opponent «making fun of Nazis.»

Katy Padilla Stout, the Democrat nominee for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, reported expenditures totaling $4,338.14 in five transactions in March and April, according to spending details cited in an August report by RedState and records attributed to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The reported purchases included $675 for cookies for a campaign event, $1,289.22 at Total Wine and $2,373.92 at Las Guitarras Cocina Mexicana.

SENATE REPUBLICAN SETTLES SIX-YEAR-OLD CAMPAIGN BILL AFTER BEING CALLED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The expenditures have also become a line of attack for Republican Brandon Herrera, whose campaign website showcases the cookie purchase and accuses Stout of using donor funds to pay for the treats.

According to the spending details, the campaign reported a $675 payment dated March 30 with the stated purpose «COOKIES FOR EVENT.» Herrera’s website identifies the payee as Denise Gamboa Zelle and categorizes the expense as a campaign event expenditure.

Additional transactions included $1,089.08 at Total Wine on April 21 and $200.14 the following day, both described as «BEER AND WINE.»

The campaign also reported payments of $2,027.52 and $346.40 to Las Guitarras Cocina Mexicana on April 27 and April 28, respectively, according to the transaction details.

In a statement to Digital, Stout said the disbursements «were for campaign and fundraising events which were attended by our supporters.»

«Sugar cookies, particularly Texas-shaped ones, hold a special place in Texan culture,» she said. «We bought ours at a local bakery because we believe in supporting small businesses.»

SENATE HOPEFUL’S ‘TREADING WATER’ NARRATIVE CRUMBLES UNDER $500K CAMPAIGN PAYOUTS TO FAMILY

The filings establish that the campaign reported the expenditures but do not establish whether the purchases were improper, whether any were for personal use or how many people attended the associated events.

The spending has attracted criticism from Herrera’s campaign, which maintains an opposition website, The Real Katy Stout.

Under a section labeled «Cookie gate,» the site highlights the $675 expenditure and displays the reported purpose, «COOKIES FOR EVENT.»

The website also criticizes Stout’s positions on immigration, taxes and other issues.

DEM SENATE NOMINEE APOLOGIZES TO JEWISH VOTERS AFTER ‘GENOCIDE’ REMARK SPARKED BACKLASH

The spending questions come as the two candidates compete for a congressional seat representing one of the country’s largest districts along the southern border. During Tuesday’s televised debate in San Antonio, Stout also drew attention for an unusual exchange involving Herrera’s online videos.

«He made millions of dollars after making jokes online, making fun of Nazis, making fun of all of these things that we know he does not need to be doing,» Stout said in a heated moment during the debate.

Herrera responded, «And here I thought making fun of Nazis was a good thing.»

Stout later apologized and clarified her criticism after closing remarks.

«I apologize, I did misspeak,» she said. «He chooses to goose-step on YouTube for clickbait and money so that he can promote that type of ideology. He chooses to shame women.»

The exchange was part of a debate hosted by WOAI/KABB, during which the congressional candidates also sparred over gun rights, immigration and the cost of living.

Stout told Digital «mocking Nazis is fine, and that is not what I objected to, nor is that what my opponent does.»

«I object to content that trivializes veteran suicide, rape, child murder, women’s bodies and the Holocaust, the type of content he churns out,» she added. «You can hear his disgusting commentary straight from his own mouth at HeReallySaidThat.com.

«Do I think he promotes Nazi imagery? Yes. In a video posted 5/24/22, he goose-steps to ‘Erika,’ and touts an MP-40 machine gun. In another video posted 6/23/20, he said ‘for the fatherland’ before firing a Nazi-made STG 44, calling it ‘like a religious experience.’ 

«Calling it a joke doesn’t change what it is: giving a platform to Nazi symbols and weaponry for clicks and money. In my view, the ‘I’m only joking’ defense is a familiar tactic among neo-Nazi and antisemitic content creators. His content has attracted bipartisan condemnation, including the Republican Jewish Coalition, which called my opponent ‘a goose-stepping extremist who pals around with online Nazis.’»

Stout, a former teacher and child welfare attorney, has emphasized affordability and corruption as central themes of her campaign.

Herrera, a firearms manufacturer and online personality who has adopted «Let’s Go Brandon» as his campaign slogan, has campaigned on border law enforcement, tax reductions and Second Amendment protections.

The two are vying to replace former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who resigned earlier this year after acknowledging an affair with a staffer.

Texas’ 23rd Congressional District stretches from the San Antonio area toward El Paso and includes hundreds of miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Early voting begins Oct. 19, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 3.

The campaign for Brandon Herrera did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for comment.

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