Justice Department prosecutor resigns amid internal dispute over Trump-related conspiracy probe

The Justice Department’s investigation into former officials alleged to have conspired against President Donald Trump hit a setback on Thursday when Joe diGenova, the Washington-based lawyer heading the probe, resigned following a heated phone conversation with Attorney General Todd Blanche. Sources said the dispute centered on diGenova’s attempt to block lawyers from the department’s headquarters from assisting his team and his demand for a secure SCIF facility at the Fort Pierce office, which officials said should be located at a nearby FBI site.

DiGenova, who took over the case in April, had broadened the inquiry beyond the long-standing effort to charge former CIA director John Brennan, seeking to examine possible crimes tied to investigations of Trump dating back to the 2016 Russian election interference probe and extending to the January 6 Capitol riot and the Mar-a-Lago documents case. The team has recently issued subpoenas to several former government employees, including former FBI lawyer Lisa Page and attorney Dan Richman, and has conducted interviews with senior-level officials who participated in the Russia investigation.

The resignation could delay the investigation, which had been expected to bring charges as early as this month. However, a senior Justice Department official said the remaining team remains confident and expects the inquiry to regain momentum. DiGenova declined further comment, stating he views his service as a privilege and that building a case “the old-fashioned way” takes time.

Career prosecutors involved in the probe had previously expressed concerns about insufficient evidence, prompting top officials to replace the original lead, Maria Medetis Long, with diGenova. The investigation continues to pursue a wide range of witnesses, including lower-level CIA and intelligence personnel, to assess the intelligence community’s role in the 2016 election and related matters.