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What investigations were opened into the alleged 'Russian hoax' and who led them?
Executive summary
Several post-2016 probes and later inquiries touched the question of whether the “Russia collusion” or “Russian hoax” narrative reflected misconduct or warranted fresh investigation. Reporting shows revived Justice Department activity in 2025 — including subpoenas and a Florida-led probe seeking documents and testimony from intelligence officials tied to the 2016 assessments — and public pushes by political actors to investigate origins of the Russia-related probes (not all sources call these efforts formal criminal investigations) [1] [2]. Available sources do not mention a single, definitive list of every investigation opened under the label “Russian hoax.”
1. The revival: DOJ subpoenas and a Florida investigation
In November 2025 federal prosecutors based in Florida were reported as issuing “dozens of subpoenas” targeting former intelligence officials connected to the 2016 intelligence community assessment on Russian interference. The reporting linked this activity to a Justice Department inquiry into Russian interference and the origins of earlier probes; CNN sources told reporters prosecutors sought records from July 2016 to February 2017, including emails, texts and files [1]. That story frames the effort as an active DOJ investigation focusing on people involved in the original reporting and assessments.
2. Who has been targeted or named in reporting
Raw Story’s summary of reporting—attributing key details to CNN—names senior former intelligence officials as being sought for documents or testimony, including former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper among others tied to the January 2017 intelligence community assessment [1]. The coverage emphasizes subpoenas for a broad set of officials involved in public and classified assessments surrounding 2016 interference [1].
3. Political context: “Russian hoax” as a political narrative
The phrase “Russian hoax” is part of a broader political narrative that critics and allies of former President Trump used to delegitimize the Russia-related investigations. Wikipedia’s overview traces how Trump and supporters labelled the probes a hoax, promoted “Spygate” and related conspiracies, and repeatedly pressed for investigations into the origins of the Mueller-era and intelligence-community work [2]. That background matters because some investigations have been launched in response to political pressure to examine whether U.S. agencies acted appropriately.
4. Competing interpretations in sources
Sources present competing frames. The Raw Story/CNN-derived reporting treats the subpoenas and document demands as a conventional DOJ effort to re-examine aspects of 2016–17 work [1]. The encyclopedic summary in Wikipedia, however, situates the calls to “investigate the investigators” within a political counter-narrative that many observers describe as a conspiracy theory aimed at discrediting intelligence findings [2]. Both frames appear in coverage; neither source demonstrates universal agreement that the new subpoenas will upend prior findings.
5. The Steele dossier, sub-sources and prior probes
Longstanding debates over the Steele dossier and its sub‑sources are part of what prompted calls for further probes. Commentary and at least one longform piece argue that interviews with key sub‑sources (for example Igor Danchenko) and the dossier’s disputed claims factored into critiques that the dossier lacked credible evidence — arguments used by those who call the overall collusion narrative a hoax [3]. That line of argument fueled earlier demands for investigation of how the dossier influenced FBI and intelligence actions.
6. What reporting does not say (limitations and gaps)
Available sources do not provide an exhaustive timeline of every investigation opened under the label “Russian hoax,” nor do they provide final outcomes for the 2025 subpoenas: they report that subpoenas were issued and officials targeted, but not completed case results or criminal charges in those probes [1] [2]. Sources also do not offer a single authoritative list of investigators leading every inquiry labeled a “hoax” probe; rather, the reporting points to DOJ prosecutors in Florida and congressional and political actors pushing for origin inquiries [1] [2].
7. Why this matters: legal, political and informational stakes
Investigations into the origins of the Russia-related probes carry legal and political significance: they can require disclosure of classified or sensitive materials, influence public perceptions of intelligence institutions, and be used politically to challenge prior findings. Coverage shows both institutional action (DOJ subpoenas) and an active political campaign to reframe the narrative, underscoring why transparency, chain-of-evidence questions, and competing interpretations remain central to public debate [1] [2].
If you want, I can compile the specific names and dates mentioned in the 2025 reporting into a timeline and list the primary public figures subpoenaed or cited in the stories (based on the available sources).