Joseph diGenova, the federal prosecutor leading a Florida-based investigation into alleged conspiracies against former President Donald Trump, resigned from his role on Thursday.
The inquiry, which had been probing past investigations into Trump, did not result in any criminal charges before his departure. A new prosecutor has not yet been named, and the Justice Department stated the investigation would continue without delays.
DiGenova, a former Reagan-era prosecutor and Trump ally, was appointed in April to lead the probe. He had previously served as a legal advisor to Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. His resignation follows months of internal scrutiny over the investigation’s pace and leadership.
Leadership and Internal Review
Justice Department officials had lost confidence in diGenova’s leadership, according to a source familiar with the matter. The investigation was described as moving too slowly, despite being staffed with additional Justice Department lawyers from Washington. The source noted that officials hoped the probe could regain momentum with new leadership.
DiGenova did not provide a reason for his resignation in public statements. In a brief comment to Reuters, he said, “It was an honor and privilege to serve the president and the department,” declining further details.
Scope of the Investigation
The probe examined multiple aspects of Trump’s political and legal challenges, including:
- The 2017 U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia sought to boost Trump’s 2016 campaign.
- The 2022 FBI search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, which uncovered classified documents.
- Trump’s efforts to contest the 2020 election results.
Investigators had recently sought testimony from former intelligence and law enforcement officials, including those involved in the Mar-a-Lago search and the 2017 Russia probe. Former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey were among those whose actions were scrutinized, though no charges were filed against them in this investigation.
Reactions and Legal Context
Trump allies had previously expressed hope that the probe would lead to charges against political opponents, including Brennan and Comey. Comey has already faced unrelated charges in two separate cases. Brennan, through his lawyers, filed a lawsuit in July seeking to preserve documents related to the investigations, denying any wrongdoing.
The Justice Department declined to comment on diGenova’s resignation or the future direction of the probe. The investigation remains active, with subpoenas issued in recent weeks to former officials before a federal grand jury, according to people familiar with the matter.