Trump ally resigns from post leading inquiry into alleged conspiracy against president | Trump-Russia investigation
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-09-11 15:30:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump’s Claims of a “Deep State” Plot Against Him Face Renewed Scrutiny as DOJ Investigation Falters
A Department of Justice investigation, launched at the urging of Donald Trump and focused on alleged conspiracies by former law enforcement and intelligence officials against the president, has been thrown into turmoil following the resignation of its leader, Joe diGenova. The probe, based in Florida, was intended to substantiate Trump’s long-standing claim that he was the victim of a coordinated effort by the intelligence community to undermine his presidency.
Trump’s Central Grievance: Russian Election Interference
One of Trump’s chief grievances, and a central focus of the investigation, is the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help him win. Trump and several of his supporters have repeatedly dismissed this conclusion, characterizing it as a “deep state” plot designed to delegitimize his victory. However, multiple government investigations—including those conducted by a Justice Department special counsel and the department’s own inspector general—have concluded that Russia did, in fact, interfere in sweeping fashion to benefit Trump.
No Evidence Found to Support Trump’s Conspiracy Allegations
Despite Trump’s repeated assertions that he was the target of an intelligence community conspiracy, the year-long investigation has failed to produce any charges or public evidence supporting this claim. Joe diGenova, a close Trump ally who was brought in to lead the inquiry, had previously and openly claimed that Trump was the victim of such a plot. Yet, five months after his appointment, the investigation’s legal viability remains in doubt, and no indictments have been issued.
Internal Dissent and Slow Progress
DiGenova’s resignation comes amid concerns among Trump loyalists that the so-called “retribution cases” against his perceived adversaries were not progressing quickly enough. DiGenova himself acknowledged the slow pace, stating, “Sometimes people want things done faster and that’s all you can do.” He also responded to criticism of his management by saying, “If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem.”
Fact-Check: Trump’s “Deep State” Narrative
The excerpt makes clear that Trump and his supporters have long decried the intelligence community’s findings as part of a “deep state” conspiracy. However, these claims have been repeatedly contradicted by official investigations, which have found substantial evidence of Russian interference in Trump’s favor, but no evidence of a coordinated plot against him by U.S. officials.
Conclusion
The collapse of the DOJ’s investigation into alleged conspiracies against Donald Trump underscores the lack of evidence behind the president’s repeated claims of a “deep state” plot. Despite Trump’s persistent narrative, multiple independent inquiries have confirmed Russian interference in the 2016 election and have found no basis for the conspiracy theories promoted by Trump and his allies. As the investigation falters, the facts continue to stand in stark contrast to the president’s assertions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/10/trump-ally-resigns-president-conspiracy-inquiry