WASHINGTON — The son of former CIA Director John Brennan was charged Friday with “transporting child pornography,” according to court documents and a U.S. law enforcement official.
Kyle Brennan, of Warrenton, Virginia, was charged after an FBI examination of his cell phone revealed 88 images that appeared to depict underage girls engaging in sexually explicit conduct, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
John Brennan is a longtime adversary of President Donald Trump, and the Justice Department has been investigating the former CIA director for more than a year.
A criminal complaint showed that the investigation into Kyle Brennan began independently of the investigation into his father, which was dubbed by supporters and detractors the “grand conspiracy” investigation.
The complaint says the investigation into young Brennan began in 2024 with a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a child welfare organization.
Virginia authorities searched his home in July 2024 and the case was referred to the FBI last month, according to the criminal complaint.
Kyle Brennan was under arrest and made an initial appearance before a federal magistrate. He was appointed a federal public defender. Kyle Brennan is being held by US Marshals pending a detention hearing, which will take place next Wednesday.
John Brennan, who led the CIA during Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration, has been scrutinized as part of a broader investigation into whether law enforcement and intelligence agencies violated Trump’s civil rights during past investigations into the president.
The conspiracy investigation has stalled in recent weeks following the resignation of high-ranking prosecutors who oversaw it. No charges have been filed so far.
John Brennan has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyers have accused prosecutors of inappropriately targeting Brennan at Trump’s direction.
The former CIA director was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury last month, but his appearance was postponed after the resignation of Joseph diGenova, a DOJ official who led the investigation, in September.
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