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

Jason Reding Quinones, the US attorney for Florida’s Southern District, has resigned from the Justice Department after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections. His departure matters as the administration faces expected congressional scrutiny over claims that the department pursued politically motivated investigations.

Quinones had overseen an expanded inquiry into alleged Russian support for Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, though a special investigator found no direct collusion and no one has been charged in the inquiry. His office also indicted former FBI director James Comey in a separate case, and Raul Castro, Cuba’s former leader. Two other senior officials, civil rights division chief Harmeet Dhillon and national security division head John Eisenberg, have also left; Democrats’ new congressional majority can use subpoena powers in investigations.