By Salma El-Sakka
Jason A. Reding Quiñones, the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida who led a "grand conspiracy" investigation into federal law enforcement officials involved in prior probes of Donald Trump, has resigned, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Friday.
Second High-Profile Departure This Week
Blanche announced on X that Reding Quiñones submitted his resignation, marking the second high-profile Justice Department departure this week following Republican midterm losses. Blanche praised his leadership on violent crime, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and transnational crime, including the indictment of Raúl Castro.
Reding Quiñones Cites Pride in Service
In his own social media post, Reding Quiñones said he was leaving "with immense pride in what we accomplished together and profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve our great Nation."
Probe Sought to Link Past Investigations
The "grand conspiracy" probe sought to charge officials over conduct from more than 10 years ago, based on the theory that separate investigations into Trump were part of a broader conspiracy against his rights. It aimed to tie actions dating back to the 2016 campaign to the Jack Smith investigation, which led to now-dismissed charges against Trump over efforts to overturn the 2020 election and handling of classified documents. No charges had been brought directly from the "grand conspiracy" effort.
Critics Call Effort Quixotic
Former Justice Department lawyer Stacey Young, who heads the group Justice Connection, described Reding Quiñones as "this president's Don Quixote for tilting at the windmill of the so-called grand conspiracy," adding that his departure follows others who pursued an impossible dream.
Other Recent Resignations and Cases
Joe diGenova, who worked under Reding Quiñones in the Southern District of Florida, resigned in September, blaming Justice Department headquarters interference. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, resigned Thursday. The department has brought charges against other Trump political foes with limited success: a judge dismissed a case against two former FBI officials, and prosecutors failed to indict former White House official Cassidy Hutchinson. Federal prosecutors are also seeking a case against former FBI Director James Comey over 2016 conduct, with a separate case pending in North Carolina.
