Jason Reding Quiñones steps down as Florida federal prosecutor overseeing intelligence

The top federal prosecutor based in South Florida has suddenly stepped down, delivering another setback to a Justice Department inquiry examining former Democratic intelligence leadership.

Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the exit of Jason Reding Quiñones, who headed the federal prosecutorial district covering Miami and surrounding areas. In a public statement, Blanche commended the departing prosecutor for confronting violent offenses, narcotics rings, and illicit global syndicates, though the department gave no specific reason for the abrupt departure. In a message shared on social media, Quiñones expressed deep appreciation to President Donald Trump and remarked that working with his colleagues had been a tremendous honor.

Before resigning, Quiñones was directing a Fort Pierce-based inquiry into whether intelligence figures serving under Barack Obama and Joe Biden colluded to hinder Trump's presidency via repeated investigations. The inquiry has also explored whether former CIA chief John Brennan made false representations before lawmakers regarding an intelligence finding that Moscow sought to meddle in the 2016 race. Although grand juries have been convened repeatedly, prosecutors have not yet filed any indictments proving an organized plot.

Quiñones becomes the latest senior figure to exit the troubled inquiry, which has experienced repeated internal friction. In September, veteran lawyer Joe diGenova abandoned his assignment following clashes with headquarters leadership. The tension reportedly spiked when headquarters dispatched two government lawyers tied to Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter to assist with oversight, a move resisted by both diGenova and Quiñones. Kurt Olsen, a former attorney connected to efforts challenging the 2020 election outcome, likewise left the team, while other temporary staff have rotated back to their standard posts. Earlier in the year, a veteran civil service prosecutor in Florida was also removed from the inquiry after voicing doubts regarding the weight of available evidence.

Despite the turnover, Blanche sought to project stability in late October, stating that personnel frequently move in and out of ongoing matters and insisting the department remained patient with the pace of the work. The announcement of Quiñones stepping down also closely followed the departure of Harmeet Dhillon from her role leading the department's Civil Rights Division.

Beyond the political inquiry, Quiñones, the child of Cuban refugees, emphasized regional foreign-policy cases during his tenure. He launched an interagency unit targeting illicit conduct by Havana officials and pressed charges against former Cuban ruler Raúl Castro and several associates over the lethal downing of civilian aircraft decades ago. Additionally, his prosecutors initiated a corruption probe concerning former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, an effort linked to a money laundering case against Maduro's close associate Alex Saab, who recently entered a guilty plea.