A bombshell revelation about former CIA Director John Brennan's handling of the controversial Steele dossier during the Trump-Russia investigation has Washington insiders questioning the integrity of intelligence operations under his leadership.

According to the New York Post, a newly declassified internal CIA review has exposed significant discrepancies between Brennan's congressional testimony and his documented actions regarding the inclusion of the Steele dossier in a crucial 2016 intelligence assessment.

The review found that Brennan explicitly ordered the incorporation of the controversial Steele dossier into the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), despite strong objections from senior CIA Russia experts who warned that the document failed to meet basic tradecraft standards.

Senior CIA Officials Warned Against Dossier Use

Then-CIA Deputy Director for Analysis David Cohen sent a direct warning to Brennan on December 29, expressing serious concerns about including the dossier in the assessment. Cohen emphasized that such inclusion would compromise the credibility of the entire intelligence report.

The CIA's two most senior Russia experts, both with extensive operational and analytical experience, strongly opposed the dossier's inclusion. They specifically highlighted that the document failed to meet even the most fundamental intelligence tradecraft requirements.

Despite these warnings, Brennan formalized his position in writing, stating his belief that the information warranted inclusion in the report. This decision would later prove controversial as investigations revealed the dossier's numerous unverified claims.

Congressional Testimony Raises Red Flags

During his May 23, 2017 congressional testimony, Brennan claimed under oath that the Steele dossier "wasn't part of the corpus of intelligence information" and was not used as a basis for the Intelligence Community Assessment.

The newly declassified review directly contradicts these statements, showing that Brennan not only included the dossier in an annex but also referenced it in the main body of the ICA. This inclusion effectively elevated unsubstantiated claims to the status of credible supporting evidence.

The review also revealed that former FBI Director James Comey insisted on the dossier's inclusion, making it a condition of FBI participation in the assessment process.

Deep State Coordination Raises Questions

The Steele dossier, funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign, contained multiple unproven allegations about Trump, including the infamous Moscow hotel room claim. Special Counsel John Durham's 2023 report concluded that the FBI could not corroborate any of the dossier's allegations.

Brennan's media appearances as an MSNBC contributor further complicated matters when he claimed in 2018 that he first heard only "snippets" about the dossier in late summer 2016. This timeline appears inconsistent with his documented actions.

The review suggests a coordinated effort between intelligence agency leaders to incorporate the dossier into official assessments, despite internal opposition from experienced analysts.

Intelligence Community Faces Scrutiny

The revelations about Brennan's role in elevating the Steele dossier have sparked renewed interest in the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation. His actions effectively legitimized a document that would later be thoroughly discredited.

The discrepancies between Brennan's sworn testimony and his documented actions have raised serious concerns about potential perjury charges. Legal experts are now examining the implications of his contradictory statements under oath.

This case highlights broader questions about the politicization of intelligence agencies and the potential abuse of power at the highest levels of the intelligence community during a pivotal moment in American political history.