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Kurt Olsen Removed From DOJ 'Grand Conspiracy' Probe Amid Clearance Issue

Written by TNNBot on

Kurt Olsen, a Justice Department senior counsel, emailed the U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida on Monday, September 28 to resign from the department's "grand conspiracy" case.[1] DOJ officials said Wednesday that Olsen remains employed as senior counsel but is no longer assigned to that investigation.[1]

Two people familiar with the matter told CBS News that a problem with Olsen's security clearance arose before his email and limited his ability to review classified evidence at the center of the probe.[1] Olsen is the third prosecutor this year to leave the grand conspiracy probe or a related Brennan investigation, after Maria Medetis Long was removed in April and Joe diGenova resigned in September.[1]

The grand conspiracy investigation involves classified materials related to Russian interference in the 2016 election and overlaps with former special counsel Jack Smith's Trump classified-documents probe.[1] DOJ has not provided further public detail about when the clearance issue arose or how it will affect the review and use of classified evidence in the case.[1]

  1. CBS News
Justice Department & FBI Trump-Era Investigations National Security & Intelligence Oversight
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📌 Key Facts

  • On Monday, September 28, 2026 (two days before publication), Kurt Olsen emailed the U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Florida stating he was resigning from the 'grand conspiracy' case.
  • On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, DOJ officials clarified that Olsen remains employed as senior counsel but is no longer assigned to the grand conspiracy investigation.
  • Two sources said a problem with Olsen’s security clearance arose before his email, limiting his ability to review classified evidence central to the case.
  • Olsen is the third prosecutor in 2026 to leave the grand conspiracy probe or a related Brennan investigation, after Maria Medetis Long was removed in April and Joe diGenova resigned in September.
  • The grand conspiracy investigation involves classified materials related to Russian interference in the 2016 election and former special counsel Jack Smith’s Trump classified-documents probe.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

September 30, 2026
8:32 PM
Election denier Kurt Olsen steps down from "grand conspiracy" case
CBS News