Blanche dodges question on whether he asked for DiGenova’s resignation

Blanche Declines to Detail Talks With Departing Justice Department Lawyer

Provpnadvice.com – Attorney General Todd Blanche declined Tuesday to address whether he urged Joe diGenova to resign from the Justice Department, following accounts of a difficult telephone exchange before the Trump ally left his post.

Speaking during a White House press briefing in the Rose Garden, Blanche said he would not publicly discuss his conversations with prosecutors, framing that restraint as important to both personnel and ongoing legal work.

“I don’t want to talk about communications I have with prosecutors. It’s not fair to them. It’s not fair to the process,” Blanche told reporters.

DiGenova stepped down last week after returning from retirement to assist President Trump and the administration. Blanche emphasized that the department appreciated his contribution, even as questions persisted over the circumstances surrounding his departure.

“He resigned last week. He came out of retirement to help the president, and to help us and we are very appreciative of the work that he did,” Blanche said.

Departure Follows Disagreement Over Pace

DiGenova had been selected in April to oversee inquiries involving several people Trump has viewed as political adversaries. His resignation came amid indications that he believed the cases needed more time before prosecutors could take the next steps.

In explaining his decision, diGenova said the available evidence could support prosecution theories but warned that investigations cannot be rushed simply to reach a desired outcome sooner.

“There’s plenty of evidence in all of these cases to prove the theories of prosecution. It just takes time to get there, and some people want to get there a little faster than others — and you can’t do that.”

He also raised a broader ethical concern about the pressure that can surround high-profile investigations. Prosecutors must establish evidence sufficient to support charges, rather than treating an indictment as a goal in itself.

“If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem.”

The disagreement highlights the tension that can arise in politically sensitive Justice Department work. Investigations involving current or former senior officials often attract public attention well before prosecutors decide whether the facts justify criminal charges. That attention does not eliminate the need for investigators to gather records, test claims and meet the legal standards required for a prosecution.

Investigations Will Continue

Blanche acknowledged that diGenova had offered varying accounts in his public comments, but he did not criticize the former lawyer for doing so. Instead, he focused on the administration’s appreciation for diGenova’s service and said the underlying matters would proceed without interruption.

“He said some different things to different outlets, which is fine.”

“I very much appreciate the work that he did for us and for the administration,” Blanche said. “Any investigations that he’s working of course continue, like they do, like any investigation does when somebody leaves. And we’re not going to slow down just because somebody leaves.”

The cases have included scrutiny involving former CIA Director John Brennan. Prosecutors have also sought information connected to people who worked on the classified-documents case involving Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property during the Biden administration.

DiGenova’s exit does not by itself end those inquiries. Blanche’s remarks made clear that the Justice Department intends to keep moving forward, with other prosecutors able to continue reviewing evidence and determining what, if any, action is warranted.

The unanswered question is whether the phone call between Blanche and diGenova played a direct role in the resignation. Blanche offered no details that would resolve that issue, maintaining that internal discussions with prosecutors should remain private. For now, the administration’s public position is that diGenova resigned after serving briefly and that the work he helped lead will continue.