The 2016 “Russiagate” scandal that dogged President Donald Trump’s election and administration is still fresh in the minds of a majority of likely voters who want to see the hoax ended with criminal prosecutions of the anti-Trump promoters.
In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey shared with Secrets, 57% believe that those who were out to get Trump in the scandal linked to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign should be prosecuted. Just 26% don’t.
Republicans are very supportive of criminal prosecutions of those who “manipulated” intelligence to undercut Trump, at 73%. But Democrats also are, with 46% backing prosecution to 32% who don’t.
The affair rocked Washington for years, and many Trump insiders believe it hurt his chances at advancing his first-term agenda despite zero evidence that the president’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.
BREAKING: President Trump suggests James Comey and John Brennan may go to jail for their 2017 conspiracy against him:
“I think they’re crooked as hell and maybe they have to pay a price for that.”
pic.twitter.com/tPDifQUxB4— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 9, 2025
A majority even believe the scandal was “bigger” than Watergate, the cover-up that brought President Richard Nixon down. In the survey, 53% somewhat to strongly agreed that it was “a bigger scandal than Watergate,” to 38% who somewhat to strongly disagreed.
The survey, which will be out later Monday, could bolster support for the investigation of two proponents of the affair, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey.
According to reports, both are under criminal investigation for possible wrongdoing related to the Trump-Russia investigation, including allegedly making false statements to Congress.
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CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred evidence of wrongdoing by Brennan to FBI Director Kash Patel for prosecution, said the reports.
Both Comey and Brennan have been nonstop Trump critics.