Federal Prosecutors: Miami U.S. Attorney Resigns After Grand Conspiracy Probe

Jason Reding Quiñones has resigned as the United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida. The departure, announced Friday, removes the official tasked with overseeing the federal investigation into alleged conspiracies against President Donald Trump. His exit follows a period of internal friction within the Justice Department regarding the management of that probe.

Officials familiar with the matter said Washington leaders grew frustrated with Quiñones' handling of the office. This dissatisfaction coincides with a series of high-profile resignations from the department's leadership ranks. The Justice Department has seen a steady turnover of senior officials in the days since the midterm elections.

Quiñones is not the only senior figure to step down this week. Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that John Eisenberg, the department's top national security official, also resigned on Friday. Additionally, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced her departure on Thursday. Dhillon had previously led a major restructuring of the Civil Rights Division.

Quiñones was confirmed by the Senate in 2024 for the Miami office. The Justice Department assigned the Southern District of Florida to lead the so-called grand conspiracy investigation. This probe examined whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials coordinated efforts against the Republican president. Quiñones previously served as a federal prosecutor in Miami and was appointed a Miami-Dade County Judge by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024.

The investigation has faced operational difficulties during Quiñones' tenure. Multiple sources indicated that scheduled grand jury testimony from several witnesses was postponed in recent weeks. The office also experienced significant staff turnover. In July, Matthew Feely, the Civil Division Chief, apologized to a federal judge for the office's handling of immigration cases. Feely noted that the office had lost 40 percent of its civil attorneys since 2025. During that hearing, Feely told the judge, "We're struggling here, your honor."

Attorney General Blanche praised Quiñones in a social media post. He cited the prosecutor's leadership in combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and transnational crime. Blanche specifically highlighted the indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro. Quiñones' office charged Castro in May regarding the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles.

Quiñones expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the nation in a social media post. He described his time in office with immense pride. The former judge also thanked President Trump for his trust and the staff of the Southern District of Florida for their dedication to the rule of law. Quiñones stated his resignation was effective immediately upon announcement.

The grand conspiracy probe has operated with interruptions for over a year. In April, a lead national security prosecutor was replaced after raising questions about the strength of the case against former CIA Director John Brennan. Joseph diGenova, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, subsequently took over the investigation. DiGenova left the Justice Department in September without filing criminal charges.

John Eisenberg, who resigned alongside Quiñones, was sworn in as assistant attorney general for the National Security Division in June 2025. His division handled cases involving espionage, terrorism, and cyber crimes. Under his supervision, former national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information. Bolton is currently awaiting sentencing. Blanche stated that Eisenberg served with distinction in addressing both foreign and domestic threats.

Quiñones' departure marks another personnel change in a department managing high-profile investigations. The Southern District of Florida will now look for a successor to lead the ongoing work. The grand conspiracy probe remains active, though its pace has slowed due to recent staffing changes and leadership transitions.