Florida U.S. Attorney Resigns From Justice Department
Jason Reding Quinones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, resigned from the Justice Department on November 6. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced his departure and thanked him for his work, citing efforts against violent crime, drug and sex trafficking, and transnational crime. Blanche also highlighted Quinones’ part in bringing charges against Cuba’s former leader, Raul Castro.
Quinones had been tapped to oversee an investigation launched in August 2025 into an alleged conspiracy by former Obama administration officials to promote claims that Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia. The inquiry issued subpoenas to John Brennan, once head of the Central Intelligence Agency; James Clapper, who previously led the U.S. intelligence community; and James Comey, formerly in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation had lost momentum in recent months under former Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova, who left his role leading the probe on September 10. People familiar with the inquiry said diGenova had been criticized for delaying possible indictments and pursuing unproductive leads.
DiGenova said he saw an ethical problem in pursuing indictments without evidence. Quinones’ resignation leaves the probe without the prosecutor who had been assigned to lead it; no further steps in the investigation were announced.
Trump-Era Probe Loses Its Florida Lead Prosecutor
A politically charged investigation targeting figures from the Obama administration has lost its assigned lead prosecutor. Jason Reding Quinones, the U.S. attorney for South Florida, resigned from the Justice Department on November 6, months after taking charge of a probe into an alleged effort to promote claims of Trump-Russia collusion.
The investigation, opened in August 2025, sent subpoenas to John Brennan, formerly head of the Central Intelligence Agency; James Clapper, a previous leader of the U.S. intelligence community; and James Comey, who once headed the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Those subpoenas put prominent former officials under scrutiny in a case centered on claims about the origins of the Russia-collusion investigation.
The probe had already lost momentum under former Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova, who stepped down from its leadership on September 10. People familiar with the matter said he was criticized for delaying indictments and chasing unproductive leads. DiGenova said there was an ethical problem with indictments unsupported by evidence.
Attorney General Todd Blanche praised Quinones’ work on crime and transnational cases, including efforts to bring charges against Cuba’s former leader, Raul Castro. But his departure leaves the controversial inquiry without its designated prosecutor, and no next steps were announced.
Probe Into Alleged Russia Narrative Conspiracy Loses Lead
The Justice Department’s investigation into an alleged effort by former Obama administration officials to advance the Trump-Russia collusion narrative has lost its lead prosecutor. Jason Reding Quinones, the U.S. attorney for South Florida, resigned on November 6, months after being tapped to oversee the inquiry.
Launched in August 2025, the probe sent subpoenas to John Brennan, once head of the Central Intelligence Agency; James Clapper, an ex-chief of U.S. intelligence; and James Comey, who formerly led the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Its focus is whether officials engaged in a conspiracy to push claims connecting Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign to Russia.
The investigation’s progress had slowed in recent months under former Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova. He resigned from the role on September 10 after criticism that he was dragging out possible indictments and following unproductive leads. DiGenova said pursuing indictments without evidence would raise an ethical problem.
Blanche thanked Quinones for his work combating violent and transnational crime, among other duties. His resignation leaves the probe without its assigned leader. The departure raises fresh questions about the investigation’s course, but no further action was announced.
Reported by New York Post, ABC News, CNN, Local 10 Miami, Raw Story, CBS News, NBC News, The Washington Examiner.
