What Happened to Joseph E. diGenova?

Joseph E. diGenova, a long-standing figure in Washington legal and political circles, has had a career marked by both high-profile government service and controversial political commentary. Born in 1945, diGenova served as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1983 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan, where he handled significant cases including the prosecution of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard.

In more recent years, diGenova became a vocal conservative commentator, frequently appearing on television alongside his wife and law partner, Victoria Toensing. He gained notoriety for promoting various conspiracy theories, including unsubstantiated claims about George Soros, which led to his being deplatformed from Fox News and Fox Business in late 2019. His public profile surged during and after the 2020 presidential election when he joined Rudy Giuliani's legal team, actively challenging the election results with baseless claims of widespread fraud. During this period, he made inflammatory remarks, notably suggesting that former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Chris Krebs, who affirmed the election's security, should be "taken out at dawn and shot," for which he later apologized and faced a defamation lawsuit.

A significant turning point in diGenova's recent career occurred in April 2026, when he was appointed Counselor to the Attorney General within the U.S. Department of Justice. This appointment, made by Attorney General Todd Blanche, placed him in charge of a sprawling and politically charged "grand conspiracy" investigation. The probe, based out of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, aimed to investigate whether former federal intelligence and law enforcement officials had conspired against President Donald Trump, particularly concerning the origins of the 2016 Russia investigation.

DiGenova's selection was met with criticism from legal experts who viewed it as a politically motivated weaponization of the Justice Department, given his history of promoting similar theories. He took over the investigation from a career prosecutor who reportedly expressed discomfort with its direction. The probe issued numerous subpoenas, including to former FBI Director James Comey, and focused on figures like former CIA Director John Brennan. However, after five months, no indictments had been brought.

On September 10, 2026, diGenova abruptly resigned from his position. He cited "differences of opinion" regarding the pace of the investigation and the time needed to build cases, amidst reported frustrations from the Trump administration over the lack of progress. His wife, Victoria Toensing, who was also part of the prosecution team, is expected to resign shortly thereafter. While diGenova stated the investigation would continue, his departure marks a significant setback for a probe that many saw as a personal vengeance mission by the Trump administration against its perceived adversaries.