Justice Shakeup: Miami Prosecutor and National Security Chief Step Down
Jason Reding Quiñones and John Eisenberg resigned Friday, adding to a wave of departures at the department following the midterm elections.
By Sakura Ellis ·
Two senior Justice Department officials resigned on Friday, departing their posts in the wake of recent midterm elections.
Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, stepped down from the role he assumed after Senate confirmation last year. His office had been tasked with leading the federal investigation into former law enforcement and intelligence officials, a probe widely known as the "grand conspiracy" case. According to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity, Washington officials grew frustrated with Quiñones’ management of the office.
John Eisenberg, the department’s top national security official, also resigned on Friday, Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed. Eisenberg had been sworn in as assistant attorney general in charge of the National Security Division in June 2025. During his tenure, his division oversaw cases involving espionage, terrorism, and cyber crimes. One of the most prominent matters under his watch was the prosecution of former national security adviser John Bolton, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to mishandling classified information and is currently awaiting sentencing.
These exits follow the Thursday announcement that Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon is also leaving. Dhillon had led a major restructuring of the department’s Civil Rights Division. The departures coincide with signs that the "grand conspiracy" investigation is stalling. Investigators have delayed scheduled grand jury testimony for several witnesses in recent weeks, multiple sources noted.
Attorney General Blanche praised Quiñones in a social media post, citing his leadership in combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and transnational crime. Blanche specifically mentioned the indictment of Raúl Castro, the former Cuban president. Quiñones’ office indicted Castro in May on charges related to the 1996 downing of civilian planes flown by Miami-based exiles. Blanche also stated that Eisenberg served with distinction while strengthening the nation’s ability to address foreign and domestic threats.
The investigation has faced repeated setbacks over the past year. In April, a lead prosecutor on the case involving former CIA Director John Brennan was replaced after questioning the strength of the evidence. Joseph diGenova, a former U.S. attorney, subsequently took over the probe but resigned in September without filing criminal charges. Quiñones said he is leaving with pride in the team’s accomplishments and gratitude to President Trump for his trust.
Quiñones also expressed thanks to the staff of the Southern District of Florida for their dedication to justice and the rule of law. The resignations mark the latest personnel changes for a department that has seen frequent turnover in key leadership roles during the current administration.
