New CIA Report Suggests Trump Was ‘Framed,’ Legal Expert Warns
A newly released CIA report has reignited debate over the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation, with legal experts claiming it provides clear evidence that former President Donald Trump was deliberately targeted by political operatives within the intelligence community.
Attorney and Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett responded to the report by calling it “proof that Trump was framed.” The report, released by current CIA Director John Ratcliffe, alleges that former Director John Brennan and other top officials manipulated the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) to include the now-discredited Steele dossier.
Ratcliffe’s findings suggest that Brennan and fellow Obama-era appointees—such as former FBI Director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper—worked behind the scenes to influence the intelligence community’s conclusions on alleged Russian election interference.
“This was a decision made by Obama, Comey, Clapper, and Brennan, stating ‘We’re going to undermine Trump,’” Ratcliffe noted.
The Steele dossier, compiled by former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, was funded by opposition research firm Fusion GPS, which was hired by the Hillary Clinton campaign. Trump allies have long claimed the dossier was a politically motivated hit job. Much of its content has since been debunked or proven unverifiable.
Jarrett writes that the dossier was “worthless” and had already been dismissed by the FBI before Trump took office. He claims former FBI leadership used it anyway—while concealing doubts from the public and lawmakers.
“The bureau concealed these inconvenient truths under then-Director James Comey and skillfully utilized the document as a weapon to attack the newly elected president,” Jarrett wrote.
The CIA report also alleges that Brennan deliberately excluded opposing viewpoints from career analysts. A deputy director reportedly warned Brennan in writing that referencing the Steele dossier would “undermine the credibility of the entire paper.” According to Ratcliffe, Brennan ignored the warning.
Further complicating matters, Brennan is accused of isolating early drafts of the intelligence report within the CIA, preventing review from other agencies such as the National Security Council.
The controversy has now escalated to the criminal level. On Tuesday, the FBI confirmed it had launched a criminal investigation into Brennan for allegedly misleading Congress. In 2019, he claimed the Steele dossier was “not in any way used” as the basis for the intelligence community’s findings—an assertion now in question.
James Clapper, who gave similar testimony, may also be included in the probe.
None of the key figures—Brennan, Comey, or Clapper—have been prosecuted. All three have since taken roles as media commentators or public speakers.
Special counsel John Durham previously concluded in 2023 that there was no link between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russian operatives.
Jarrett concluded that unless those responsible are held accountable, the misuse of intelligence for political ends will continue.
“The sole remedy for lawlessness is justice,” he wrote.
