Justice Department prosecutor Joe diGenova abruptly resigned Thursday from his role overseeing a wide-ranging federal investigation into former government officials and inquiries related to President Donald Trump. DiGenova, a former U.S. attorney and longtime ally of President Trump, confirmed his departure in a phone interview, stating he submitted his resignation letter directly to Attorney General Todd Blanche.
"If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem." Joe diGenova, Justice Department Prosecutor
DiGenova expressed gratitude for his service, saying, "I did resign today by letter to the attorney general. I said that it was a privilege and an honor to serve the president and the department, and I was very grateful." His sudden resignation introduces significant uncertainty into the future direction and leadership of the Florida-based investigation, which has been examining allegations involving former Obama administration officials and various law enforcement and intelligence investigations connected to President Trump.
The probe, which diGenova took control of earlier this year, began in the South Florida US Attorney’s Office in August 2025. It later expanded its scope, issuing subpoenas to several prominent former intelligence and law enforcement officials. Among those reportedly receiving subpoenas were former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. Investigators have also reportedly brought witnesses before a grand jury in recent weeks, with sources telling the New York Post that "a lot of people are being brought in."
Reuters independently confirmed diGenova’s resignation and reported that the investigation has examined several distinct matters involving President Trump. These include the intelligence community’s 2017 assessment regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the FBI’s 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, and various investigations surrounding efforts to overturn the 2020 election. To date, diGenova’s investigation has not resulted in any criminal charges.
Sources cited by the New York Post offered differing perspectives on the reasons behind diGenova’s departure, claiming he had recently lost support among senior Justice Department officials and within the White House. One source accused the 81-year-old veteran prosecutor of "slow-rolling" potential indictments and becoming distracted by investigative "rabbit holes." DiGenova, however, strongly rejected these suggestions, asserting that his reluctance to pursue charges was rooted in ethical considerations. "If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem," he responded.
Another source suggested that diGenova had created "unrealistic expectations" about the potential outcomes of the investigation, reportedly leading to a confrontation with Attorney General Blanche. Additionally, several prosecutors dispatched from the Justice Department’s headquarters in Washington to assist with the investigation were reportedly sidelined after their arrival.
President Trump’s allies have consistently argued that the actions of certain former intelligence and law enforcement officials warrant criminal charges, pointing to recently released records and congressional findings as evidence supporting further investigation into how the 2016 Russia assessment and subsequent probes were handled. Conversely, former officials scrutinized during the investigation, including John Brennan, have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Questions have also been raised within legal circles regarding the feasibility of legally combining such disparate matters into a broader conspiracy case and whether Florida would be the appropriate jurisdiction for any potential charges. Notably, former CIA Director John Ratcliffe previously referred Brennan to the FBI for a criminal investigation following a review examining the intelligence community’s 2016 assessment on Russian interference, according to the New York Post.
DiGenova’s departure leaves a void in the leadership of this politically sensitive investigation at a critical juncture, with grand jury activity reportedly underway and dozens of subpoenas already issued. The path forward for the probe remains uncertain as the Justice Department navigates its future direction. Journalist John Solomon tweeted, "Joe diGenova resigned today as lead prosecutor in the Fort Pierce case. But not for the reasons some in the legacy media are saying. Yes, disagreements over resources, strategy and access to evidence are common inside DOJ."
