Trump loyalist Joe diGenova being dispatched to lead DOJ's controversial probe in Florida
The Justice Department is set to dispatch Joe diGenova — a Trump loyalist attorney who assisted President Donald Trump's failed legal effort to overturn his 2020 election loss — to help lead a controversial investigation in Florida targeting the president's perceived political foes, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
The installment of diGenova comes after the removal of a top career prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Southern Florida, Maria Medetis Long, from the politically charged probe after sources told ABC News she had expressed concerns about a rushed effort to bring criminal charges against former CIA Director John Brennan.
DiGenova served in the 1980's as the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., but hasn’t served as a prosecutor for decades and in recent years has been a vocal ally and confidant to Trump.
In frequent media appearances diGenova has echoed much of Trump’s grievances — including conspiracy theories — about the investigations that have targeted the president dating back to his first term in office.
DiGenova could not immediately be reached for comment, and a DOJ spokesperson also did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC News.
DiGenova’s hiring to oversee the so-called “grand conspiracy” probe in Florida - which is said to be examining whether intelligence officials and prosecutors engaged in a years-long effort to unlawfully target Trump - could signal a significantly more aggressive approach to an investigation closely monitored by some of Trump’s most vocal supporters.
It is also likely raise concerns among attorneys for scores of individuals who have been targeted with subpoenas in the investigation due to diGenova’s lengthy history of commentary and past involvement in Trump’s legal defense during the Russia investigation.
DiGenova has previously described Brennan, whose role in assembling a 2017 intelligence community assessment detailing Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 election has been a subject of DOJ scrutiny, as a “real traitor” and said he should face criminal charges for allegedly lying to Congress.
Brennan has denied such accusations and said he stands by his role in the 2017 assessment and its conclusions. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ABC on Saturday.
