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A senior prosecutor has been removed from a high-profile inquiry after raising doubts about the legal basis for charging a former CIA director, a development that complicates the future of the probe and highlights internal debate at the Department of Justice. The change arrived as investigators continue to issue subpoenas and prepare interviews tied to a referral from Congress.
The prosecutor, Maria Medetis Long, informed defense lawyers that she is no longer participating in the investigation, according to a person familiar with internal discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity. That source said Medetis Long had expressed skepticism to Justice Department officials about whether existing evidence would support a criminal case against the former official.
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The Justice Department confirmed the prosecutor is no longer on the matter but declined to describe the circumstances. In a statement, the department said rotating attorneys across matters is standard practice and helps offices allocate resources effectively, adding that changes to legal teams are normal.
CNN first reported Medetis Long’s departure. A spokesperson for her office did not immediately provide a comment when asked for one.
Medetis Long leads the national security section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida and had been involved in the inquiry centered on allegations linked to a referral from Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. That referral asserts the former CIA director gave false testimony about the preparation of the intelligence community’s assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election — an allegation the former official and his lawyers have denied.
What investigators are doing now
Federal investigators have issued a series of subpoenas in recent months and have been preparing for additional witness interviews. It remains uncertain whether those steps will lead to criminal charges or how Medetis Long’s removal will affect cooperation from witnesses and counsel.
- Who: Maria Medetis Long, head of the national security section in the Southern District of Florida, was removed from the probe.
- Target: The inquiry centers on the former CIA director’s actions and testimony related to the 2016 intelligence assessment.
- DOJ position: Officials characterize personnel changes as routine and resource-driven.
- Next steps: Subpoenas and planned interviews are ongoing; the possibility of charges is unresolved.
Observers say personnel shifts in politically sensitive investigations can influence both strategy and perception. Within the department, transitions are sometimes framed as administrative; externally, they often fuel scrutiny about independence and priorities.
Last year, the Justice Department also saw changes in its prosecution teams in other politically charged inquiries, and those reassignments drew attention to how staffing decisions can alter the trajectory of investigations. How this most recent shift will affect the Brennan-related inquiry — if, when, or whether charges might be filed — is likely to remain unclear for the near term as investigators continue their work.
Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report.
