DOJ prosecutor investigating Trump foes abruptly resigns, says ‘you have an ethical problem’ if you want indictments without evidence

Counselor to the Attorney General Joe diGenova has abruptly resigned from his position overseeing the sprawling investigation into former officials from the Obama administration. This move comes after months of high-stakes scrutiny surrounding the origins of claims regarding collusion between Donald Trump and Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign.

As reported by the NY Post, DiGenova confirmed the departure in a phone call, noting that he had already submitted his official letter of resignation to the attorney general. He expressed that it was a privilege and an honor to serve the president and the department, stating he was very grateful for the opportunity.

The investigation, which has been handled by prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones, reportedly began in August 2025. It has since resulted in dozens of subpoenas being issued to prominent figures from the Obama era. 

He reportedly faced a lot of pressure in the department

Among those targeted are former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. Sources close to the matter have reportedly indicated that a significant number of individuals have been brought in to testify before a grand jury in recent weeks.

While the investigation has been active, diGenova reportedly faced mounting pressure within the Department of Justice and the White House. Some sources claimed the 81-year-old prosecutor and former Trump defense lawyer had been slow-rolling potential indictments and getting lost down rabbit holes. 

There were also allegations that he had shared unrealistic expectations regarding the probe with the president, which reportedly led to a direct confrontation with Attorney General Todd Blanche. Furthermore, several prosecutors who were sent down from the main Department of Justice office in Washington DC were allegedly sidelined after arriving to assist with the case.

When asked to address the claims that he had lost focus during the investigation, diGenova pushed back firmly. He stated, “If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem.” The investigation itself stems from a July referral by current CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who sent Brennan to the FBI for a criminal probe. 

This referral reportedly followed the release of a lessons-learned review regarding the assessment of the Obama administration’s spy agencies, which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump. That specific report criticized Brennan and Clapper for becoming excessively involved in the drafting process, describing the methodology as chaotic, atypical, and markedly unconventional. 

At the time, Ratcliffe commented, “This was Obama, Comey, Clapper and Brennan deciding ‘We’re going to screw Trump.’” Additional layers of scrutiny emerged in August 2025, when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reportedly declassified emails showing that Clapper was sticking to the narrative regarding Russian interference, despite concerns raised by a top intelligence official.