Tense phone call and resignation upend Justice Department probe into Trump’s top foes

A Justice Department investigation into alleged conspiracies by former officials against then-President Donald Trump has been significantly disrupted following a tense phone call and the resignation of its lead prosecutor, Joe diGenova. DiGenova, a known Trump loyalist, stepped down from his position on Thursday, September 10, 2026, just five months after being appointed to oversee the loosely defined probe. His departure reportedly stemmed from disagreements with Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the pace and management of the investigation.

The probe, based in Florida, was tasked with examining whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired against Trump, including those involved in the 2016 Russian interference inquiry and his retention of classified documents. Prior to diGenova's resignation, the investigation had shown signs of intensifying, with new subpoenas demanding testimony before a federal grand jury. However, diGenova indicated that while he believed evidence existed, "time was needed to build those cases," suggesting differing opinions on how quickly the investigation should proceed.

The sudden resignation of diGenova, and the expected resignation of his wife Victoria Toensing who was also part of the prosecution team, injects immediate turmoil and potential delays into an investigation that has been under pressure from the Trump administration to prosecute perceived political foes. The probe has faced scrutiny over its scope and resources, with reports suggesting career prosecutors had previously resigned from aspects of the inquiry due to ethical concerns.