Miami U.S. Attorney Resigns as Justice Department Probes Stumble
Jason Reding Quiñones departs the Southern District of Florida office, joining a wave of high-level exits following the midterm elections.
By Samir Doyle ·
Washington officials grew frustrated with the management of the federal office leading a major probe into alleged plots against the president, leading to the resignation of its chief prosecutor on Friday.
Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, stepped down from his role. He had been confirmed by the Senate last year to lead the department's investigation, often called the grand conspiracy probe, which examined whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired against President Donald Trump.
Quiñones is not the only senior official leaving. John Eisenberg, the Justice Department's top national security official, also resigned on Friday. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Eisenberg's departure. The exit follows that of Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general who led a major restructuring of the Civil Rights Division, who announced her departure on Thursday.
The resignations arrive as the investigation shows signs of slowing down. Multiple people familiar with the matter said investigators in recent weeks postponed scheduled grand jury testimony for several witnesses. The probe has faced repeated setbacks since beginning more than a year ago. In April, a lead national security prosecutor on the case involving former CIA Director John Brennan was replaced after raising questions about the strength of the evidence. Joseph diGenova, a former D.C. U.S. attorney, took over the investigation but resigned from the department in September without filing criminal charges.
Blanche praised Quiñones in a social media post, citing his leadership in combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and transnational crime. The attorney general specifically noted the indictment of Raúl Castro, the former Cuban president, in May. Castro was charged in connection with the 1996 downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles.
Quiñones expressed pride in his tenure in a post on Friday. He wrote that he leaves with immense pride in what the team accomplished and profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve. He thanked President Trump for his trust and the staff of the Southern District of Florida for their dedication to justice and the rule of law.
Eisenberg was sworn in as the head of the National Security Division in June 2025. His portfolio included espionage, terrorism, export control violations, and cyber crimes. The division handled the prosecution of former national security adviser John Bolton, who pleaded guilty this year to mishandling classified information and is now awaiting sentencing. Blanche stated that Eisenberg served with distinction while strengthening the nation's ability to address foreign and domestic threats.
