FBI opens investigation into its former director and CIA director

 The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has opened a criminal investigation into its former director, James Comey, and former CIA Director John Brennan, two prominent critics of President Donald Trump, according to US media reports.

Fox News Digital reported that the investigation concerns "potential misconduct" related to the investigation into suspected Russian interference in the 2016 election, which Trump won, and possible false statements to Congress.

U.S. Justice Department sources reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe, appointed by Trump, has referred "evidence of wrongdoing by Brennan" to FBI Director Kash Patel, also appointed by Trump, to consider possible prosecution.

Comey and Brennan were appointed to both positions by former Democratic President Barack Obama and have had a contentious relationship with Trump since his first term in the White House.

Trump fired Comey in 2017 while the FBI was investigating whether any members of the Republican president's campaign colluded with Moscow to influence the 2016 presidential election between him and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller led that investigation, concluding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to Trump's advantage.

However, Mueller stated that the investigation "did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities."

In 2018, Trump revoked Brennan's security clearance, accusing the former CIA director of making "baseless and outrageous allegations" about his administration.

The Justice Department declined to confirm that an investigation had been opened into Comey and Brennan.

"We do not comment on ongoing investigations," a department spokeswoman said Wednesday.

But White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt, when asked about the report in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday evening, said she was "glad to hear the news."

Leavitt added, "These two disgraceful individuals have turned against our Constitution and our country. I'm certain they actually lied to Congress."

She continued, "It is the responsibility of the Department of Justice to investigate this matter and prosecute them if they did."

Since taking office in January, Trump has taken a number of punitive measures against his opponents, stripping former officials of their security clearances and personal protection, targeting law firms that worked on previous cases against him, and cutting federal funding to prestigious universities.