“Agency heads at the time created a politically charged environment that triggered an atypical analytic process around an issue essential to our democracy.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe
(July 2, 2025)
July 6, 2025 — This week, the CIA concluded a critical internal review casting serious doubts on the integrity of past intelligence narratives—highlighting strong circumstantial evidence that former CIA Director John Brennan played a central role in shaping, and possibly fabricating, key political allegations. Follow us on Twitter: @INTEL_TODAY
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“John Brennan should be facing a grand jury.”
Senator Rand Paul
UPDATE (July 9, 2025) — In a stunning development, the FBI has officially launched a criminal investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, following a referral from current Director John Ratcliffe.
This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) and the broader Russiagate saga.
The investigation centers on Brennan’s alleged role in the ICA, focusing on potential false statements made to Congress and accusations of intelligence manipulation tied to the Trump-Russia narrative.
Former FBI Director James Comey is also reportedly in the crosshairs, as investigators examine the broader intelligence and investigative actions taken during that turbulent period.
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This probe could reshape the public’s understanding of the politicization within U.S. intelligence agencies, shedding new light on actions taken during the Obama administration and the early days of the Trump presidency.
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As this story unfolds, it underscores the lasting impact of intelligence on U.S. political dynamics and national security. On the 50th anniversary of the Year of Intelligence, it seems we’re heading for a remake.
END of UPDATE
“Either we need a new election or hang former CIA Director John Brennan for putting out disinformation.”
Robert Baer
Former CIA operative
Newsweek (January 2017)
When politics and intelligence mix, the truth becomes a battlefield. Brennan’s influence over the Russiagate narrative, particularly his push to include unverified elements such as the Steele dossier, has long drawn criticism.
The new review brings fresh clarity to just how deeply his actions may have distorted intelligence processes during a pivotal period. But one question remains: Did Brennan promote the Havana Syndrome hoax?
“The core of this conspiracy began with John Brennan and ends with John Brennan. This is very serious business and for the first time, I now believe that some of these guys [James Comey, John Brennan and James Clapper] are going to go to prison. (…) Brennan needs five lawyers.”
Joe diGenova
Former U.S. Attorney and Special Counsel
(May 15 2019)
CIA Tradecraft Review of the 2016 Election
In early 2025, CIA Director John Ratcliffe ordered a comprehensive, lessons-learned review of the analytic tradecraft behind the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) issued shortly after the 2016 election. This week, the findings were declassified.
The review uncovered several procedural anomalies in the preparation of the ICA:
— A compressed timeline that undermined deliberative analysis
— Uneven access to compartmented intelligence
— Marginalization of the National Intelligence Council
— And unusual direct involvement of agency heads, including Brennan
The findings emphasize that adherence to tradecraft standards is critical to maintaining the credibility and objectivity of CIA assessments—both of which were seriously compromised.
Brennan’s Broader Role
In the shadow world of espionage, facts are currency — but sometimes the currency is counterfeit. Beyond Russiagate, Brennan also inserted himself into other politically sensitive narratives.
His endorsement of the claim that the Hunter Biden laptop was a Russian disinformation operation — later disproven—further exemplifies a pattern of politicized intelligence messaging.
Brennan had both the means and the motive to shape intelligence narratives in ways that could discredit political opponents, protect favored interests, and reinforce his influence.
Havana Syndrome in the Brennan Context
Enter Havana Syndrome — the unexplained neurological symptoms first reported by U.S. diplomats in Cuba shortly after Trump’s 2016 victory.
Suspicion originally stemmed from a CIA officer stationed in Havana, and the phenomenon escalated rapidly before fading almost entirely after the 2020 election.
This timeline is more than suspicious as it hints at a possible intelligence operation, not just a medical mystery.
The notion that Brennan’s network used Havana Syndrome as a psychological and political tool fits the “truth seeding” strategy long taught within intelligence circles: blending real-world anomalies with exaggeration to create a persuasive but misleading narrative. The effect? Greater funding, increased public alarm, and sustained political pressure.
“The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”
Stephen Hawking
The Wider Network
Figures such as attorney Mark Zaid and ex-CIA officer Michael Polymeropoulos appear at key junctions in both the Havana Syndrome and Hunter Biden narratives — suggesting coordination rather than coincidence.
Their roles in both shaping public perception and driving institutional action underscore a deeper entanglement between legal, media, and intelligence networks.
The problem with the truth is not that it is difficult to know, but that it is difficult to accept.
Conclusion
On the balance of evidence, it is far more plausible that Havana Syndrome reflects internal dysfunction and politicization within the CIA than the mythical powers of a Russian microwave death ray.
This case illustrates how intelligence agencies can weaponize narratives — blurring the lines between fact and fabrication.
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In an era where trust in institutions is fragile, we must view official intelligence claims with critical scrutiny and demand accountability from those sworn to serve truth over politics.
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In January 2017, former CIA operative Robert Baer warned, “We need a new election or hang former CIA Director John Brennan for putting out disinformation.”
Well, we got the new election — and we know how that turned out.
But if IntelToday is right, and Havana Syndrome was in fact a CIA-driven hoax—seeded, politicized, and weaponized—then serious accountability must follow.
Brennan’s legacy won’t be salvaged by classified memos or cable news panels. It will be judged by history, and possibly by law.
Disinformation at the highest levels of the intelligence community is not just a scandal. It’s a threat to democracy.
REFERENCES
CIA Director John Ratcliffe Declassifies Internal Tradecraft Review of 2016 Election ICA to Promote Analytic Objectivity and Transparency — CIA website (July 2, 2025)
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Revisiting Havana Syndrome: Moscow Death Ray vs. CIA Hoax [New Revelations on John Brennan & Russiagate]
Intel Today 