Trump foes 'grand conspiracy' probe falters amid departures and legal obstacles
Source published: Oct 10, 2026 · 11:05 PM EDT · Event: 2026-10-10
The Justice Department's Florida-based investigation into an alleged long-running conspiracy by national-security and law-enforcement officials to violate President Donald Trump's civil rights is struggling with departures, internal disagreements, inexperienced staffing and legal obstacles, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Journal said the department is no longer pursuing the inquiry as one sweeping conspiracy case and that lawyers in the deputy attorney general's office are now directly overseeing it from Washington. Reuters separately reported that former team leader Joseph diGenova resigned September 10 and that senior counsel Kurt Olsen later left the investigative team after the department ended his DOJ security clearance.
Response / context
The Justice Department told the Journal that the investigation continues, that new prosecutors have joined it and that officials did not pressure diGenova to bring cases before they were ready. No charge or indictment has been announced, and reported doubts about the probe's legal theory and evidence are not a court finding that the inquiry is unlawful or formally closed. Olsen told Reuters that he maintains an active clearance from another agency, disputed any suggestion that a clearance had been revoked and said the clearance issue did not drive his departure; DOJ confirmed only that he no longer has an active department clearance. Former CIA Director John Brennan, whose lawyers say he has been scrutinized in related inquiries, has denied wrongdoing. The department's original strike-force announcement said it would assess evidence and recommend legal steps; it did not establish that a criminal conspiracy occurred.
Dates and scope
Source publication: Oct 10, 2026 · 11:05 PM EDT
Event or conduct: 2026-10-10. The Wall Street Journal published its account October 10. Reuters had independently reported October 7 that Kurt Olsen left the investigative team after the department ended his DOJ security clearance, following Joseph diGenova's September resignation.
Dated report. Publication, event and review times are different; the review time is when the sources were last checked, not a live update.
This brief preserves the available response and disposition. Coverage is non-exhaustive. How we review sources.
Read the original sources
- The Wall Street Journal: The Conspiracy Probe of Trump Foes Is Faltering ↗
October 10 investigative report on leadership departures, internal management problems, legal obstacles, direct Washington oversight and the Justice Department's response that the inquiry continues
- Reuters: Failed polygraph played role in the loss of Trump ally Kurt Olsen's security clearance, sources say ↗
Independent October 7 reporting on Olsen's DOJ clearance status and departure, diGenova's resignation, the absence of charges, Olsen's response and the department's limited confirmation
- U.S. Department of Justice: Justice Department Announces Formation of Strike Force to Assess Evidence Publicized by ODNI ↗
Primary 2025 announcement reviewed for the department's stated purpose and initial scope; it does not establish that a conspiracy occurred or resolve the investigation's current status
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