Former CIA Director John Brennan said he is fighting to protect his reputation after filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking to preserve records related to federal investigations into him.

In an exclusive interview Wednesday with MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace, Brennan said he is among hundreds of people being politically targeted by the administration. He explained that he needed to “go on the offensive” with his lawsuit because he believes President Donald Trump is using the U.S. Department of Justice to punish perceived political enemies.

“Today’s lawsuit, I think, sends a clear signal that I’m willing to fight this on behalf of my reputation and what I did, but also on behalf of so many others who are either currently in those cross hairs or will be soon,” Brennan said.

“I told my lawyers, I don’t want to sit on our hands because if he gets away with me, he’s going to continue to do this against others,” he later added.

Brennan pointed to a Reuters tally reporting that at least 470 people, organizations and institutions have been targeted for retribution during Trump’s second term and said his case is part of a broader pattern.

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Ebony Davis

Ebony Davis is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked at CNN as a campaign reporter covering elections and politics.