Trump DOJ appointee leading grand conspiracy probe resigns from Justice Department

Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida appointed under Donald Trump, has resigned from the Justice Department, NBC News reported. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the resignation and praised Reding Quiñones for his work combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and transnational crime.

The resignation marks the second high-profile departure from the DOJ this week following significant Republican losses in the midterm elections, according to NBC News. Reding Quiñones led the so-called "grand conspiracy" probe investigating federal law enforcement officials involved in prior investigations of Trump.

The probe sought to charge officials over conduct dating back more than ten years, based on a theory that investigations into Trump were part of a broader conspiracy against his rights, CBS News reported. The investigation also examined whether former intelligence officials from Obama and Biden administrations conspired to keep Trump out of office.

CBS News noted that Reding Quiñones' departure follows internal disputes within the DOJ inquiry, including the earlier resignation of another U.S. attorney involved in the probe. The investigation has faced management challenges and questions about its viability.

ABC News added that Reding Quiñones' resignation was anticipated after DOJ leadership privately admonished him for lack of progress and frequent trips to Washington, D.C. The probe has yet to produce criminal indictments, causing frustration among Trump and DOJ officials.

The Justice Department continues to address violent crime and trafficking issues while managing the ongoing grand conspiracy investigation, though its future direction remains uncertain following these departures.