Kurt Olsen leaves DOJ ‘grand conspiracy’ investigation

Olsen’s role

Kurt Olsen told the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida in a Monday email that he was leaving the “grand conspiracy” investigation. He remains employed by the Justice Department as a senior counsel but is no longer assigned to the matter, a department official clarified Wednesday.

Justice Department officials in Miami and Washington initially interpreted Olsen’s message as a resignation from federal employment. Olsen later contacted department officials to explain that he intended to remain an attorney there, CBS News reported.

Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a Wednesday news conference that Olsen had not resigned and remained employed in the same office. The department later distinguished between Olsen’s employment and his assignment to the investigation.

Security clearance and possible next steps

Olsen encountered a problem with his security clearance before sending the email. The investigation involves classified evidence, including material about Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Trump’s retention of classified records.

The Justice Department has not announced Olsen’s next assignment. Olsen has expressed interest in a possible transfer to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina to work under Dan Bishop on election matters, but no transfer has been confirmed.

Turnover in the investigations

Olsen is the latest prosecutor to leave work on the “grand conspiracy” matter or a related investigation into whether former CIA Director John Brennan lied to Congress about the agency’s role in the 2016 intelligence assessment.

Maria Medetis Long was removed from the case in April after raising concerns about the evidence. Joe diGenova replaced her but resigned in September amid disagreements with the Deputy Attorney General’s Office over management of the case. Olsen previously represented Trump’s campaign in its unsuccessful effort to overturn the 2020 election results.