Ratcliffe Says Criminal Referrals Made Over 2016 Trump-Russia Allegations; DOJ Investigation Ongoing
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe stated during a recent appearance on Fox News that he has made criminal referrals to the Department of Justice regarding individuals involved in the promotion of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative during the 2016 election.
Speaking with host Maria Bartiromo, Ratcliffe indicated that these referrals concern potential misconduct by officials involved in the early stages of the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation. While he did not name specific individuals during the interview, media reports have connected the referrals to figures such as James Comey (former FBI Director), John Brennan (former CIA Director), and James Clapper (former Director of National Intelligence).
“There are individuals who may have provided false testimony under oath,” Bartiromo said, to which Ratcliffe replied, “That’s the reason I’ve made the referrals I have, and I expect the Department of Justice to pursue them fairly.”
This comes as part of a broader examination following the release of Special Counsel John Durham’s report in 2023. Durham concluded that the FBI lacked sufficient basis to launch the full investigation into alleged ties between Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. His report also revealed that the FBI had received intelligence suggesting that Hillary Clinton’s campaign might have intended to link Trump to Russian interference, though this intelligence was not verified or acted upon by the Bureau.
In July 2025, a classified annex to the Durham report was declassified, and it has become a renewed focus for investigators. This annex referenced claims—based on unverified foreign intelligence—that Clinton may have authorized a plan to associate Trump with Russian hacking. However, the FBI did not find definitive evidence supporting this claim, and no charges have been filed against Clinton.
Recently, a DOJ task force under Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly launched a grand jury investigation into the handling of the Crossfire Hurricane probe. The investigation follows multiple criminal referrals, including one made earlier by former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, now serving in an intelligence advisory role.
One document cited in some media coverage includes a 2016 email from an executive at Open Society Foundations (a group linked to philanthropist George Soros), suggesting Clinton campaign involvement. However, major outlets report that this document’s authenticity is unconfirmed, and the DOJ has not publicly commented on its relevance or admissibility.
As of now, no indictments have been issued in connection with the referrals, and all individuals implicated deny wrongdoing.