Exclusive: Tense phone call and resignation upend Justice Department probe into Trump’s top foes

Key Points:

• Joe diGenova, the top prosecutor leading the Justice Department's broad conspiracy probe into former officials involved in investigations targeting Donald Trump, abruptly resigned following a dispute with Attorney General Todd Blanche over resources and team assistance.
• DiGenova sought to broaden the investigation beyond initial targets like former CIA director John Brennan, pursuing charges against several Trump political critics linked to investigations of Trump from 2016 onward, including the Russia election interference inquiry and the January 6 Capitol riot case.
• Tensions arose over diGenova's demands for a secure SCIF room at the Fort Pierce office and additional lawyers, which Justice officials resisted, preferring use of existing FBI facilities and denying claims of resource denial.
• Despite diGenova’s departure, Justice Department officials remain confident in the investigative team and expect progress to continue, though his resignation may cause delays in a probe that had anticipated charges possibly as soon as this month.
• The probe has involved subpoenas and grand jury testimonies from former FBI and intelligence personnel tied to past investigations of Trump, highlighting the wide-ranging and historically expansive nature of the inquiry, which has faced criticism over its broad scope and relevance to the southern Florida jurisdiction.