Trump says Brennan, Comey 'crooked as hell' amid FBI probe, may have to 'pay the price'

During a meeting with African leaders in the State Room of the White House on Wednesday, Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked the president for his response to the investigation. 

"Do you want to see these two guys behind bars?" Doocy asked the president. 

"Well, I know nothing about it other than what I read today," Trump said. "But I will tell you, I think they're very dishonest people. I think they're crooked as hell. And, maybe they have to pay a price for that."

"I believe they are truly bad people and dishonest people," the president added. "So whatever happens, happens." 

The sources said that Ratcliffe's referral was received and told Fox News Digital that a criminal investigation into Brennan was opened and is underway. DOJ sources declined to provide further details. It is unclear, at this point, if the investigation spans beyond his alleged false statements to Congress.

As for Comey, DOJ sources told Fox News Digital that an investigation into the former director is underway, but could not share details of what specifically is being probed.

The full scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey is unclear, but two sources described the FBI's view of the duo's interactions as a "conspiracy," which could open up a wide range of potential prosecutorial options. 

The FBI and CIA declined to comment.

Neither Brennan nor Comey immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

It also determined that the "decision by agency heads to include the Steele Dossier in the ICA ran counter to fundamental tradecraft principles and ultimately undermined the credibility of a key judgment." 

Trump has long condemned both Brennan and Comey for their involvement in the 2016 intelligence assessments concerning Russian interference in the U.S. election. 

Trump has argued that Brennan and Comey politicized intelligence to undermine his presidency, deeming the investigation the "Russia hoax" and a "rigged witch hunt" that damaged U.S. relations with Russia. 

The investigation was taken over by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.

During Trump's first term, the Justice Department tapped another special counsel, John Durham, to investigate the FBI's potential mishandling of the "Crossfire Hurricane" probe into alleged Trump-Russia connections. The probe, which included examining the role of the Steele dossier, resulted in criminal charges against three lower-level FBI officials. Although Durham uncovered serious missteps by the bureau, he determined there was no illegal conduct by FBI leadership.