Washington – The Justice Department’s high‑profile investigation into whether former government officials conspired against President Trump suffered another setback on Monday when prosecutor Kurt Olsen announced his resignation. Olsen, who has publicly backed President Trump’s 2020 election claims, was confirmed to be leaving the probe by a source speaking on condition of anonymity.
Background on the investigation
The inquiry, often described in media reports as a “grand conspiracy” probe, was launched to examine whether officials from prior investigations – including the Russia probe and the classified‑documents case – coordinated efforts to deprive President Trump of his constitutional rights. The team has faced criticism for pursuing what some observers call an ill‑defined right‑wing theory of a plot against the president.
Olsen’s role and recent developments
Kurt Olsen, an 81‑year‑old attorney, rose to prominence after supporting President Trump’s challenges to the 2020 election results. Prior to joining the Justice Department, he served as the White House director of election security and integrity, helped Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pursue a Supreme Court petition to overturn President Biden’s 2020 win, and represented Kari Lake in her 2022 Arizona gubernatorial contest. Arizona courts later sanctioned Olsen for false statements in that case.
Olsen’s involvement in the current investigation came to light earlier this month when former CIA Director John Brennan’s attorney disclosed that Olsen had discussed a subpoena to compel Brennan’s testimony before a grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida. According to the source, Olsen also indicated that Brennan remained a target of a separate false‑statements inquiry.
Recent turnover in the probe
The resignation follows the departure of another Trump ally, former U.S. Attorney Joseph diGenova, who had been leading the Florida component of the investigation. DiGenova, who served as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia during the Reagan administration, resigned earlier this month without filing a single criminal charge. His exit, along with the earlier replacement of a lead national‑security prosecutor in April, underscores the turbulence within the year‑long effort.
While the investigation’s ultimate direction remains unclear, officials have continued to seek testimony from individuals involved in prior probes, hoping to uncover any coordinated effort to undermine President Trump’s rights.
Administration’s stance
President Trump’s administration has consistently defended the probe as a necessary safeguard against attempts to silence the president and his supporters. In recent statements, White House officials emphasized the importance of protecting constitutional freedoms and ensuring that any wrongdoing, whether by former officials or current actors, is fully investigated.
As the Justice Department’s team reshapes, observers note that the resignations may affect the pace of the inquiry but do not necessarily signal its end. The administration remains committed to pursuing any evidence of a coordinated effort to deprive the president of his lawful authority.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
