Tense call with Blanche preceded Trump loyalist's DOJ exit, upending probe into Trump's foes

WASHINGTON, DC: Days after a Trump loyalist overseeing the Justice Department’s probe into Trump’s foes abruptly resigned, details of a tense phone call with Attorney General Todd Blanche have emerged, offering new clues about what may have led to his departure.

A  top prosecutor leading the wide-ranging DOJ investigation against Trump’s political foes, Joe diGenova, resigned on Thursday, September 10.

Joe diGenova's exit followed a heated call with Todd Blanche

Joe diGenova, a Washington lawyer, resigned after a clash with Attorney General Todd Blanche, sending the case into turmoil and possibly causing a new delay.

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed to CNN that a tense call occurred between diGenova and Blanche on Wednesday, September 9.

Among the disputes adding to the rift between diGenova and his bosses in Washington was his demand for a high-security room known as a SCIF to be built at the Fort Pierce office to make it easier for the prosecution team to store highly classified materials, two people familiar with the investigation told CNN.

DiGenova’s team worked from an office that included a room for handling sensitive materials. The room did not meet the highest classification level diGenova demanded.

The report also revealed that Justice Department officials told diGenova he and his team should use a SCIF at an FBI office miles away.

Besides a highly classified room, diGenova also demanded more lawyers for his team. Justice officials dismissed any claims that he was denied resources, according to two people familiar with the investigation.

Joe diGenova was tasked with pursuing Trump's foes

Among the DOJ's targets is former CIA Director John Brennan, accused of making false statements to Congress, as the probe pushes to bring criminal charges against officials behind past investigations of President Trump.

Despite dozens of subpoenas issued over the past year, the investigation has so far produced no criminal prosecutions.

Since joining as top prosecutor, diGenova has pursued a broader set of charges against several of Trump’s political critics.

A person familiar with the matter also revealed that the day diGenova resigned was a busy day for the DOJ’s decade-long inquiry, as investigators were presenting a witness for testimony to a grand jury in the probe.

Joe diGenova highlights 'ethical problem' then explains remark

“If you want indictments where there’s no evidence, you have an ethical problem,” Joe diGenova told New York Post Washington Bureau Chief Josh Christenson by phone when asked about his sudden departure.

Later, explaining his comments to The Associated Press, diGenova said that his comments were taken out of context.