US prosecutor who led Trump-backed election probe exits Justice Department

Another top prosecutor has resigned from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) following the Democratic victory in the midterm elections . US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason Reding Quinones, submitted his resignation on Friday, according to Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Quinones, a Trump loyalist, had overseen and expanded a federal government probe into Russia’s alleged support for Trump’s 2016 election campaign. While a special investigator later determined there had been no direct collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, the president has long touted the probe as evidence of a political “witch-hunt”.

Critics have accused the DOJ of pursuing politically motivated investigations at the behest of Trump, who has repeatedly called for retribution against former officials. Three former officials – former CIA director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former FBI Director James Comey – were reportedly subpoenaed as part of the investigation, although no one has been charged.