Investigators reviewing the origins of the Russia probe are reportedly looking into the CIA's actions when John Brennan John Owen BrennanJournalism or partisanship? The media's mistakes of 2016 continue in 2020 Comey on Clinton tweet: 'I regret only being involved in the 2016 election' Ex-CIA Director Brennan questioned for 8 hours in Durham review of Russia probe MORE served as its director.

Politico, citing anonymous sources, reported that Attorney General William Barr Bill BarrFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Why a backdoor to encrypted data is detrimental to cybersecurity and data integrity FBI official who worked with Mueller raised doubts about Russia investigation MORE and federal prosecutor John DurhamJohn DurhamSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Barr's Russia investigator has put some focus on Clinton Foundation: report Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE are investigating a "conspiracy theory" that a professor linked to the Russia probe was a Western intelligence asset attempting to undermine President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE's campaign and that the CIA was involved somehow.

A spokesman for Durham declined to comment on the characterization or whether Brennan would be interviewed in the investigation.

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The former CIA director recently told NBC News that Durham plans to interview several current and former intelligence officials including Brennan and former director of national intelligence James Clapper James Robert ClapperOn China, Biden is no Nixon — and no Trump The Hill's 12:30 Report - Speculation over Biden's running mate announcement Trump slams former intelligence officials to explain 'reluctance to embrace' agencies MORE.

Politico also reported that the investigation is focused on the CIA and intelligence community's work with the FBI on the Russia investigation.

Brennan led the CIA between 2013 and 2017 under former President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaDemocrats ramp up pressure on Lieberman to drop out of Georgia Senate race The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements Trump pledges to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, designate KKK a terrorist group in pitch to Black voters MORE. His spokesman, Nick Shapiro, told Politico that the agency had been focused on "Russia’s interference in the election and the role that Russian officials played.”

“In our government, the FBI is who conducts counterintelligence investigations on U.S. citizens. What Barr and Trump are reportedly up to not only doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, but it is yet another dangerous abuse of power, something that seems to now happen on a daily basis in this administration,” he said.

A former White House official told Politico that Trump is “obsessed” with Brennan, who frequently criticizes the president.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley, however, told the news outlet that "the only way I’ve ever heard anyone in the White House mention him is as a punchline."

Former special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE spent 22 months investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow. While six former Trump associates and more than two dozen Russian nationals and entities were indicted, Mueller in his final report did not explicitly allege the president committed a crime, and did not uncover evidence that the Trump campaign illegally conspired with the Kremlin.

Critics of the current Justice Department review say that it is an effort to undermine the intelligence community's findings of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The New York Times recently reported that about two dozen people have been interviewed, suggesting the probe is further along than previously known.