Trump Loyalist Tapped to Lead 'Grand Conspiracy' Probe Into Former Officials

Joseph diGenova, a former Trump campaign lawyer, will oversee the politically-charged investigation based out of a Florida court with a Trump-favored judge.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:35pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting of a political symbol like a gavel, repeated in overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, grey, and red, creating a sense of chaos and division.The politically-charged investigation into former officials by a Trump loyalist raises concerns about the independence of the criminal justice system.Fort Pierce Today

The Justice Department has appointed Joseph diGenova, a former lawyer for President Trump's campaign, to lead a sprawling inquiry into whether former federal officials committed crimes in investigating Trump. The investigation is using a grand jury based in Fort Pierce, Florida, overseen by a federal judge who issued rulings favorable to Trump during the classified documents case against him.

Why it matters

The moves show how the Justice Department under Trump's control has been willing to embrace politically-charged tactics and unorthodox personnel decisions in its efforts to satisfy Trump's demands to prosecute his perceived foes, even as other prosecutors loyal to him have encountered pushback from courts against his wide-ranging retribution campaign.

The details

A senior law enforcement official said diGenova has been given the title of counselor to the attorney general and detailed to the Southern District of Florida, where the U.S. attorney, Jason A. Reding Quiñones, another Trump loyalist, is supervising the inquiry. diGenova's appointment comes after Maria Medetis Long, a senior career prosecutor in Miami who had been in charge of the investigation, was abruptly removed from the case. Medetis Long, who leads national security investigations for Quiñones's office, is said to have objected to moving forward with a portion of the inquiry focused on John O. Brennan, the former CIA director.

  • The investigation was launched in 2026.

The players

Joseph diGenova

A former lawyer for President Trump's campaign who has been selected to lead the inquiry after a career prosecutor in Miami was removed from that post.

Aileen M. Cannon

A federal judge in Fort Pierce, Florida, who has overseen the grand jury for the investigation and issued rulings favorable to Trump during the classified documents case against him.

Jason A. Reding Quiñones

The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida who is supervising the inquiry and is another Trump loyalist.

Maria Medetis Long

A senior career prosecutor in Miami who had been in charge of the investigation but was abruptly removed from the case after objecting to moving forward with a portion of the inquiry focused on John O. Brennan, the former CIA director.

John O. Brennan

The former CIA director who is the focus of a portion of the inquiry.

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What they’re saying

“Together, the moves show how the Justice Department under Mr. Trump's control has been willing to embrace politically charged tactics and unorthodox personnel decisions in its efforts to satisfy his demands to prosecute his perceived foes — even as other prosecutors loyal to him have encountered forceful pushback from courts against his wide-ranging retribution campaign.”

— Charlie Savage, Author

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow the investigation to continue and whether to indict any former officials.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political tensions and allegations of abuse of power within the Justice Department under Trump's influence, raising concerns about the independence and impartiality of the criminal justice system.