Turning Law Enforcement on Opponents

The Conspiracy Probe

To Investigate His Investigators, Trump Recruited a Man Who Had Called for Their Imprisonment

Select a Section to Explore

Chapter 1 — The President Chose Prosecution

Chapter 2 — The Prosecutors Kept Leaving

Chapter 3 — The Investigation Reached the Investigators

Chapter 4 — Investigative Power Does Not Settle Presidential Responsibility

1 · The President Chose Prosecution

1 · The President Chose Prosecution — select a subtopic

1.1 — A Prosecutor Who Had Already Called for Prison

1.2 — The President's Choice

1 · The President Chose Prosecution

1.1 · The President Chose Prosecution

A Prosecutor Who Had Already Called for Prison

Joseph diGenova said publicly that the officials who investigated Trump should go to prison. He was then assigned to investigate them, and said Trump had personally asked him to take the job. Trump had already demanded in public that his Justice Department prosecute named adversaries.

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Sources

[1]Anna Bower and Molly Roberts, Lawfare, analysis of Joseph diGenova's appointment (dated April 27, 2026 by the complaint)

[2]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post addressed to Pam Bondi (Sept. 20, 2025, 6:44 p.m. ET), archived at Trump's Truth

[3]Laura Jarrett and Ryan J. Reilly, NBC News, report of its interview with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (Apr. 14, 2026)

[4]Complaint, Brennan v. Blanche, No. 1:26-cv-02323-JMC (D.D.C. July 1, 2026), ECF No. 1

[5]Alan Feuer and Glenn Thrush, The New York Times, as carried by The Seattle Times (Oct. 9, 2026), How Trump's Revenge Campaign Descended Into Turmoil

[6]Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, as carried by PBS News (posted Sept. 11, 2026)

[7]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post (Jan. 22, 2026), archived at Trump's Truth

1.2 · The President Chose Prosecution

The President's Choice

The New York Times reported that Trump told his chief of staff and Todd Blanche to hire diGenova over objections from Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials. NBC reported that Trump fired Bondi partly because she had not succeeded in prosecuting his political foes.

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Sources

[2]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post addressed to Pam Bondi (Sept. 20, 2025, 6:44 p.m. ET), archived at Trump's Truth

[3]Laura Jarrett and Ryan J. Reilly, NBC News, report of its interview with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (Apr. 14, 2026)

[4]Complaint, Brennan v. Blanche, No. 1:26-cv-02323-JMC (D.D.C. July 1, 2026), ECF No. 1

[5]Alan Feuer and Glenn Thrush, The New York Times, as carried by The Seattle Times (Oct. 9, 2026), How Trump's Revenge Campaign Descended Into Turmoil

[6]Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, as carried by PBS News (posted Sept. 11, 2026)

[7]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post (Jan. 22, 2026), archived at Trump's Truth

[8]Department of Justice, Justice Department Announces Formation of Strike Force to Assess Evidence Publicized by ODNI (July 23, 2025)

[9]Letter from Rep. Jim Jordan, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary, to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (July 22, 2026)

[10]Eric Tucker, Associated Press, as carried by PBS News (July 23, 2026)

[11]Statement of Jack Smith, Former Special Counsel, before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary (Sept. 29, 2026)

[12]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social image post (May 11, 2026, 10:40 p.m. ET), archived at Trump's Truth

[13]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post (Sept. 21, 2026, 12:57 a.m. ET), archived at Trump's Truth

[14]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post (Mar. 18, 2024), archived at Trump's Truth

[15]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post (Mar. 9, 2026), archived at Trump's Truth

[16]Bloomberg, DOJ Seeking Criminal Indictment of Former White House Aide (Oct. 8, 2026), carried by Bloomberg Law

[17]Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, report on a grand jury presentation concerning Cassidy Hutchinson (updated Oct. 8, 2026)

2 · The Prosecutors Kept Leaving

2 · The Prosecutors Kept Leaving — select a subtopic

2.1 — The Prosecutor He Replaced

2.2 — DiGenova Resigns

2 · The Prosecutors Kept Leaving

2.1 · The Prosecutors Kept Leaving

The Prosecutor He Replaced

A career prosecutor was removed from the Brennan team after questioning the evidence, according to the AP, and diGenova replaced her within days. The Times reported that an FBI agent who then raised an evidence problem with diGenova was pulled off the case.

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Sources

[1]Anna Bower and Molly Roberts, Lawfare, analysis of Joseph diGenova's appointment (dated April 27, 2026 by the complaint)

[5]Alan Feuer and Glenn Thrush, The New York Times, as carried by The Seattle Times (Oct. 9, 2026), How Trump's Revenge Campaign Descended Into Turmoil

[18]Eric Tucker, Associated Press, as carried by WSLS (Apr. 17, 2026)

2.2 · The Prosecutors Kept Leaving

DiGenova Resigns

DiGenova resigned on September 10, 2026, amid reported frustration over the probe's pace. He warned against indictments without evidence, then said evidence existed but needed time. Another prosecutor, Kurt Olsen, left the inquiry on September 28 and remained at the Justice Department.

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Sources

[6]Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, as carried by PBS News (posted Sept. 11, 2026)

[19]Alan Feuer, The New York Times, as carried by The Boston Globe (Sept. 28, 2026)

[20]Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News (Sept. 30, 2026), on Kurt Olsen's status

3 · The Investigation Reached the Investigators

3 · The Investigation Reached the Investigators — select a subtopic

3.1 — Two Inquiries Into One Man

3.2 — The Subpoena and the Courthouse

3 · The Investigation Reached the Investigators

3.1 · The Investigation Reached the Investigators

Two Inquiries Into One Man

Brennan's lawyer says the former CIA director faces two separate inquiries: one into his statements to Congress, the other into an alleged conspiracy spanning the investigations of Trump. The broader inquiry has also subpoenaed FBI employees who carried out the search of Trump's home.

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Sources

[4]Complaint, Brennan v. Blanche, No. 1:26-cv-02323-JMC (D.D.C. July 1, 2026), ECF No. 1

[21]Supplemental Declaration of Kenneth L. Wainstein, Brennan v. Blanche, ECF No. 32 (D.D.C. Sept. 14, 2026)

[22]Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, as carried by WDBO (Sept. 24, 2026)

[23]Evan Perez and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN, as syndicated by KRDO (May 8, 2026)

3.2 · The Investigation Reached the Investigators

The Subpoena and the Courthouse

Brennan's lawyer accepted a subpoena for testimony in Fort Pierce, where the only judge is Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee. His lawyers had asked the chief judge to prevent prosecutors from steering the matter to her; the Justice Department called the allegation speculative. The New York Times later reported that prosecutors postponed his appearance to at least early December and that a dozen prosecutors were still pursuing the inquiry.

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Sources

[5]Alan Feuer and Glenn Thrush, The New York Times, as carried by The Seattle Times (Oct. 9, 2026), How Trump's Revenge Campaign Descended Into Turmoil

[6]Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, as carried by PBS News (posted Sept. 11, 2026)

[21]Supplemental Declaration of Kenneth L. Wainstein, Brennan v. Blanche, ECF No. 32 (D.D.C. Sept. 14, 2026)

[24]Letter from Kenneth L. Wainstein to Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga (Dec. 22, 2025), filed as Appendix A to the complaint, ECF No. 1-1

[25]Associated Press, as carried by KUOW (Sept. 14, 2026), report of the hearing before Judge Jia M. Cobb

[26]Defendants' Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, Brennan v. Blanche, ECF No. 20 (D.D.C. July 28, 2026)

[27]Administrative Order 2025-74, In re: Empanelment of Federal Grand Juries (S.D. Fla. Sept. 26, 2025) (Altonaga, C.J.)

4 · Investigative Power Does Not Settle Presidential Responsibility

4 · Investigative Power Does Not Settle Presidential Responsibility — select a subtopic

4.1 — The Strongest Defense, and Its Limits

4.2 — The Charge Against Trump

4 · Investigative Power Does Not Settle Presidential Responsibility

4.1 · Investigative Power Does Not Settle Presidential Responsibility

The Strongest Defense, and Its Limits

Former officials can be investigated, and the government has real criticisms of the earlier Russia inquiry to point to. Blanche said diGenova's past comments did not necessarily create a conflict and promised he would follow the facts. Brennan's request to preserve records for a future challenge is still pending. The objection is Trump's choice of a prosecutor who had already called for these officials' imprisonment.

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Sources

[1]Anna Bower and Molly Roberts, Lawfare, analysis of Joseph diGenova's appointment (dated April 27, 2026 by the complaint)

[2]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post addressed to Pam Bondi (Sept. 20, 2025, 6:44 p.m. ET), archived at Trump's Truth

[3]Laura Jarrett and Ryan J. Reilly, NBC News, report of its interview with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche (Apr. 14, 2026)

[4]Complaint, Brennan v. Blanche, No. 1:26-cv-02323-JMC (D.D.C. July 1, 2026), ECF No. 1

[5]Alan Feuer and Glenn Thrush, The New York Times, as carried by The Seattle Times (Oct. 9, 2026), How Trump's Revenge Campaign Descended Into Turmoil

[6]Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press, as carried by PBS News (posted Sept. 11, 2026)

[26]Defendants' Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, Brennan v. Blanche, ECF No. 20 (D.D.C. July 28, 2026)

[28]United States v. R. Enterprises, Inc., 498 U.S. 292 (1991)

[29]Trump v. United States, No. 23-939 (U.S. July 1, 2024) (slip opinion)

[30]United States v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456 (1996)

[31]Special Counsel John H. Durham, Report on Matters Related to Intelligence Activities and Investigations Arising Out of the 2016 Presidential Campaigns (May 12, 2023)

[32]CIA Directorate of Analysis, Tradecraft Review of the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment on Russian Election Interference (memorandum dated June 26, 2025)

[33]Letter from Rep. Jim Jordan, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary, to Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi (Oct. 21, 2025)

[34]Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, case page and docket listing for Brennan v. Blanche (docket listing updated Oct. 10, 2026)

[35]Memorandum Opinion, In re Grand Jury Subpoenas (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System v. United States), Misc. No. 26-12 (JEB) (D.D.C. signed Mar. 11, 2026, filed Mar. 13, 2026) (Boasberg, C.J.)

[36]Memorandum Opinion and Order, United States v. Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc., No. 2:26-cr-139-ECM (M.D. Ala. Aug. 7, 2026), Doc. 112 (Marks, J.)

4.2 · Investigative Power Does Not Settle Presidential Responsibility

The Charge Against Trump

Trump's public demands and his recruitment of a prosecutor who had already called for prison are established by his own posts and the prosecutor's reported words. The charge is that he used the public power to prosecute to pursue the punishment he had demanded. Impeachment gives Congress a way to examine that abuse of public trust, separately from the rules for criminal prosecution of a president.

Read the full chapter — all the detail, fully footnoted →

Sources

[1]Anna Bower and Molly Roberts, Lawfare, analysis of Joseph diGenova's appointment (dated April 27, 2026 by the complaint)

[2]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post addressed to Pam Bondi (Sept. 20, 2025, 6:44 p.m. ET), archived at Trump's Truth

[7]Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Truth Social post (Jan. 22, 2026), archived at Trump's Truth

[29]Trump v. United States, No. 23-939 (U.S. July 1, 2024) (slip opinion)

[37]U.S. Constitution, art. II, §§ 3 and 4 (National Archives transcription)

[38]Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 65 (Avalon Project, Yale Law School)

[39]Articles of Impeachment Adopted by the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary (1974), The American Presidency Project