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Three senior officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) have resigned following the midterm elections, marking a significant shift within the department. Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John Eisenberg, the head of the National Security Division, and Harmeet Dhillon, the chief of the Civil Rights Division, have all stepped down.
According to CNN, Quiñones resigned under pressure from department leadership. He had been involved in a controversial investigation into President Donald Trump’s political opponents. During his tenure, Quiñones' office secured a significant indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro. However, his efforts to pursue other high-profile cases did not materialize as planned.
Eisenberg, who oversaw prosecutions related to terrorism and espionage, also announced his resignation on Friday. He was known for his role in handling President Trump’s call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the first Trump administration, Politico reports.
Dhillon, who led a significant overhaul of the Civil Rights Division, resigned on Thursday. Her division had been involved in efforts to address issues like antisemitism on university campuses, NBC News notes.
Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the officials for their service. In a social media post, he expressed gratitude for Quiñones’ leadership in combating various crimes, including drug and sex trafficking. The resignations come as Democrats gained control of Congress and are expected to increase oversight of the Trump administration.
The departures could pose challenges for the administration, which may face difficulties confirming new officials with a Democratic Senate. However, President Trump could appoint acting leaders to fill these roles temporarily.