Story perspectives

Senate Democrats Probe FBI Payback Squad Targeting Trump Critics

5/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Senate Democrats are questioning FBI Director Kash Patel about the agency’s internal “payback squad” and alleged political targeting.
The Director’s Advisory Team, created in 2025, is assembling a grand-conspiracy case against former CIA Director John Brennan and other Trump critics, with a grand jury scheduled for Jan 12 2026.
Trump-appointed attorney Joseph diGenova leads the Florida probe, while career prosecutor Maria Medetis Long was removed after resisting pressure to quickly charge Brennan.

1 of 1

Story summary

Senate Democrats are questioning FBI Director Kash Patel about the agency’s internal “payback squad” and alleged political targeting.
The Director’s Advisory Team, created in 2025, is assembling a grand-conspiracy case against former CIA Director John Brennan and other Trump critics, with a grand jury scheduled for Jan 12 2026.
Trump-appointed attorney Joseph diGenova leads the Florida probe, while career prosecutor Maria Medetis Long was removed after resisting pressure to quickly charge Brennan.