US Attorneys Leading Trump Foes Probe, National Security Division Head Resign from DOJ

Jason Reding Quiñones, the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida who led a probe into whether Trump’s rivals engaged in a “grand conspiracy,” and John Eisenberg, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, have both resigned from the DOJ. The departures follow recent Democratic midterm gains and the resignation of Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. Quiñones’ investigation, which targeted figures like former CIA Director John Brennan, had not resulted in any indictments and is now considered by some to be effectively over. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated Quiñones’ departure would not impact efforts to combat violent crime, drug trafficking, and sex trafficking. Eisenberg previously served in the first Trump administration and oversaw the National Security Division, which handles terrorism, espionage, and immigration enforcement. Dhillon had sought to leave before the midterms and was asked by the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, to stay on until after election day, but Trump reportedly sought her dismissal after a 60 Minutes appearance. Sources indicate DOJ leadership had privately admonished Quiñones for a lack of progress in the “grand conspiracy” investigation. Eisenberg’s division was also involved in the classified documents prosecution of John Bolton and leak investigations targeting journalists.

Where they differ

• The Washington Times focused on Quiñones’ role investigating Obama- and Biden-era officials, framing the probe as targeting those individuals specifically.
• ABC News emphasized that several Trump-allied attorneys had stepped away from the “grand conspiracy” probe, while the Guardian highlighted conservative commentary on its demise.
• The Guardian reported Trump sought to dismiss Dhillon after her 60 Minutes appearance, a detail not present in the other two sources.

What is not yet known

• The full scope of the “grand conspiracy” investigation and the specific evidence pursued remain unclear.
• The reasons for Eisenberg’s resignation beyond the standard statement of service are not detailed.

Background

• Jason Reding Quiñones was the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida and oversaw the investigation into the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse [Fact Refinery, 2026-09-20].
• John Eisenberg previously served in the first Trump administration as head of the National Security Division, overseeing areas like terrorism and espionage [background knowledge].
• Harmeet Dhillon sought to leave her position at the DOJ before the midterms but was asked to stay on by White House chief of staff Susie Wiles [background knowledge].
• The Justice Department’s National Security Division was involved in leak investigations targeting journalists and the classified documents prosecution of John Bolton [background knowledge].
• Robert Garcia, a Democratic Congressman from California, filed a defamation lawsuit against Leon Black alleging false statements about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-05].

Our reading

Our reading is that these resignations, following Democratic midterm gains, suggest a shift in personnel within the DOJ away from individuals closely associated with the previous administration’s more contentious investigations. The focus on the “grand conspiracy” probe and the reported admonishment of Quiñones indicate internal disagreement over its direction and value. The timing of these departures, coupled with Dhillon’s earlier request to leave, implies a potential reshaping of the DOJ’s priorities and a distancing from investigations perceived as politically motivated or unproductive.

What to watch

• Whether the “grand conspiracy” investigation is formally closed and if any remaining evidence is made public [DOJ website].
• The outcome of any appeal filed by the Justice Department regarding the ruling in the Maurene Comey case [court records, Southern District of New York].
• Any further resignations or personnel changes within the DOJ’s National Security Division [DOJ press releases].

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