The president of the United States seems to have finally caught on to something that most people in government have known for the better part of three decades: Vladimir Putin can’t be trusted. He implied as much today when admitting that though Putin is nice all the time, “it’s meaningless,” in terms of negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Hopefully, this new awareness will bear defensive fruit for Ukraine, particularly as Russia’s response to the president’s criticism has been to increase its aerial assault on its beleaguered neighbor tonight. Unfortunately, Mr. Trump’s clearer eyesight is not the only Russia-related news out of Washington today.

Having spent millions of dollars during his first administration investigating former CIA director John Brennan for his professional assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, our federal government is about to go for round two – or is it three? Then-Attorney General Bill Barr appointed John Durham to investigate the investigators. Durham came up with three cases to prosecute and lost both that went to trial. None had to do with Brennan.

So why is Pam Bondi‘s Justice Department doing this all over again? And how is it that we even know about it? Could it have something to do with the need the White House may feel to tamp down anger and criticism from its voters over having done an about face on releasing Jeffrey Epstein‘s client list? MAGA world is pretty upset. Perhaps a clear way to get them back in The Donald’s corner is for the Justice Department to investigate a former CIA Director who is very vocal about the president’s unconstitutional behavior and is on the payroll of MSNBC. It’s not an accident that Karoline Leavitt commented on this investigation of Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey on Fox News Channel this morning. Subtlety is not a strong suit of this administration.

To be fair, there may be some new evidence the public is unaware of. But if so, the administration might as well reveal it, since it’s revealed the investigation itself. Doubtful anyone will be holding their breathe.

What’s most disturbing about this renewed investigation is that there are no guarantees it will all blow over. U.S. law at the federal level isn’t standing on solid ground these days. The Justice Department is no longer independent and often no longer seeking justice as it has been traditionally defined. And the Executive Branch seems to keep making and winning emergency motions for relief from District Court orders it doesn’t like.  At the very least, John Brennan and James Comey are certain to spend a pretty penny in legal fees, even if this investigation somehow manages to reach the same conclusion as Durham’s: that there was no there there when it came to either being corrupt in their assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election. How long is it going to take Mr. Trump to get clear-eyed on this fact too?