Lead Prosecutor Resigns From Trump Conspiracy Probe After Blanche Call

Joe diGenova, the Washington lawyer leading the Justice Department’s investigation into former Obama-era officials, resigned Thursday after a tense phone call with Attorney General Todd Blanche over the probe’s direction and resources. DiGenova had been investigating whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired against President Trump. His departure has created uncertainty about the investigation’s future and delayed proceedings.

The resignation and the conflict

DiGenova resigned on September 10 after a confrontational call with Blanche on September 9, according to two people familiar with the matter. The clash centered on DiGenova’s effort to block lawyers sent from DOJ headquarters from assisting the probe. DiGenova also requested a high-security SCIF room be built at the Fort Pierce office to store classified materials, but Justice Department officials told him to use an FBI office miles away instead.

Why DOJ leadership lost confidence

Sources said DiGenova had lost support from Department of Justice leaders and the White House over his management of the investigation. One source suggested the 81-year-old prosecutor was “slow-rolling” indictments and pursuing “rabbit holes.” When asked about the accusation, DiGenova shot back: “If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem.” Another source said DiGenova had shared “unrealistic expectations” with the president about what the probe could accomplish.

The investigation continues despite leadership vacuum

Former CIA Director John Brennan has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Fort Pierce on October 15, according to his lawyer Ken Wainstein. The subpoena was delivered on the same day DiGenova resigned. Brennan remains a target in a separate Washington-based investigation examining whether he lied to Congress in 2023, a claim he has consistently denied. The DOJ has not yet named a replacement for DiGenova.

Broader probe targets multiple Trump critics

The investigation, informally known as the “grand conspiracy” case, examines whether government officials who investigated Trump over the past decade conspired to deprive him of his civil rights. The probe began in August 2025 under U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones in South Florida and has issued dozens of subpoenas to high-ranking officials including ex-CIA Director John Brennan and ex-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Since DiGenova joined in April, he pursued broader charges against several of Trump’s political critics involved in investigations of him over the past decade.

Final Thoughts

DiGenova’s sudden exit leaves the sprawling investigation without a clear leader and raises questions about its pace and scope. The DOJ says it remains confident in the team, but the leadership vacuum and resource disputes signal rough waters ahead for the probe.

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