US prosecutor behind sweeping Trump opponents investigation resigns
Photo: US Attorney Joseph diGenova (Getty Images)
US Attorney Joseph diGenova, who led a wide-ranging investigation into Donald Trump's opponents, has announced his resignation. His departure leaves the high-profile case in limbo, according to Reuters.
US Attorney Joseph diGenova, who oversaw a wide-ranging investigation into the activities of several of Donald Trump’s opponents, tells Reuters that he is stepping down. The investigation aimed to prove that the President had been the victim of a long-running criminal conspiracy.
"It was an honor and privilege to serve the president and the department," DiGenova says, declining to provide further details.
DiGenova, a Trump ally and former US attorney in Washington during the Ronald Reagan administration, joined the Department of Justice in April to lead the investigation in Florida.
He echoed the President's claims that the Russia case was a politically motivated attempt to harm Trump.
What investigation covered
The investigation examined a 2017 US intelligence assessment concluding that Russia had sought to support Trump's first presidential campaign in 2016. It also addressed cases handled by former Special Counsel Jack Smith, regarding Trump's retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and his attempts to challenge his defeat in the 2020 election.
So far, the investigation has not led to any criminal charges. Investigators have interviewed current and former intelligence officials and, in recent weeks, have sought to question FBI officials involved in the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago.
The investigation is part of a broader effort by the Justice Department targeting the President's perceived opponents.
Some of Trump's allies had hoped that it might lead to the arrest of Smith, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former FBI Director James Comey, whom the administration has already charged in two other cases.
Any charges resulting from the investigation may face legal obstacles. Some legal experts doubt whether prosecutors can file a case in Florida, since a significant portion of the Russia investigation took place in Washington, DC, and Virginia.
In August, the White House declassified FBI documents regarding a 2017 covert investigation into Trump's possible ties to Russia. The investigation was opened after the dismissal of FBI Director James Comey and was later closed after no evidence was found.
