DOJ Exits: Quinones and Eisenberg Resign as Grand Conspiracy Probe Stalls

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Friday that Jason Reding Quinones has resigned from the Justice Department. Quinones, the U.S. attorney for South Florida, had been leading the department’s sweeping investigation into alleged criminal violations of President Donald Trump’s civil rights. Blanche also confirmed the resignation of John Eisenberg, the top official overseeing the DOJ’s National Security Division.

These two departures mark the second and third high-level exits from the Trump administration since Democrats won their historic midterm victories. They follow the resignation of Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump ally, who left the Civil Rights Division on Thursday. Quinones is the latest Trump-aligned attorney to step back from the probe, which targets intelligence officials and other government actors involved in events dating to the 2016 campaign.

Sources indicated that Quinones’ exit was expected after DOJ leadership criticized him in private meetings. Officials expressed frustration over the investigation’s lack of progress and Quinones’ frequent trips to Washington, D.C. Although the probe has resulted in behind-the-scenes legal battles over subpoenas and grand jury testimony, it has not yet produced any criminal indictments. This lack of formal charges has been a source of irritation for President Trump and other top DOJ figures.

In a social media post, Blanche thanked Quinones for his work on violent crime, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and transnational offenses. The announcement noted that Quinones had been tasked with leading the controversial conspiracy probe, which has ensnared numerous targets of the President in legal wrangling.

Eisenberg’s role at the DOJ has shifted significantly in recent years. Previously a central figure in the Ukraine scandal that led to Trump’s first impeachment, Eisenberg’s office saw personnel reassigned away from terrorism and espionage cases. Instead, the division focused on the administration’s immigration enforcement priorities. The National Security Division also led the classified documents prosecution of former national security adviser John Bolton, who pleaded guilty earlier this year. The division was involved in leak investigations that resulted in subpoenas for several journalists.

The departures occur as the DOJ continues to manage the fallout from the midterm elections. The grand conspiracy probe remains active despite the leadership changes, though the absence of indictments continues to draw scrutiny. Blanche’s announcement did not specify when replacements would be named for the vacated positions.