Joe DiGenova resigned from his Justice Department post overseeing the so-called “grand conspiracy” probe, the investigation into alleged misconduct by Obama- and Biden-era officials, sources told CNN and CBS News.
DiGenova, a Washington lawyer tapped in April to supervise the South Florida-based inquiry, quit after a clash with Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to CNN reporting that said the resignation came a day after a tense phone call in which diGenova resisted Justice Department lawyers sent from headquarters.
CBS News reported diGenova turned in his resignation letter at 3 p.m. on a Thursday and told the network it “was an honor and a privilege to serve the president and the department.” CBS noted diGenova declined to explain the reasons for his abrupt departure and that prosecutors had not yet brought charges in the probe.
Reporting from CNN said diGenova had pushed for a secure SCIF room at the Fort Pierce office and for more lawyers, and that Justice Department officials had told him to use an FBI SCIF miles away. CNN also reported investigators were presenting a witness for grand jury testimony the day diGenova resigned.
The CNN piece added that diGenova’s team had signed at least one subpoena; a court filing noted John Brennan received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury in Fort Pierce in mid-October, and lawyers for Brennan described that filing in court.
The diGenova-led effort sought to examine connections stretching back to the 2016 Russia inquiry and other probes of the president, and it had contacted former intelligence and FBI employees for interviews, CNN reported. CBS and CNN said the investigation has not produced criminal charges since diGenova joined in April.
The departure is the latest shakeup in a probe that has drawn internal DOJ disagreement and outside criticism about political motives; career prosecutors had earlier raised concerns about the sufficiency of the evidence, CNN found.
For readers wanting more on the personnel and leadership involved, see reporting on Joe DiGenova resigns after tense call with Todd Blanche and background on Attorney General Blanche’s confirmation in August in a separate profile.
Sources
- CNN — reported diGenova resigned after a tense phone call with Attorney General Todd Blanche, described requests for a SCIF and additional lawyers, and said investigators were presenting a witness to a grand jury the day he left.
- CBS News — reported diGenova turned in his resignation letter at 3 p.m., quoted him saying it was an honor to serve, and noted no charges have been filed in the probe.
