U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement about the Navy's "Golden Fleet" at Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 22, 2025. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
In the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) District of Southern Florida, MAGA Republican and federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quiñones — an ally of President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi — is leading an investigation of an investigation. Quiñones is probing former FBI and intel officials who investigated Russian government interference in the United States' 2016 presidential election.
A DOJ alumni, ex-federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade, is vehemently critical of Quiñones' probe in an opinion column published by MS NOW's website on the last day of 2025. McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor and MS NOW legal analyst, views Quiñones' investigation as politically motivated. Quiñones' targets include ex-CIA Director John O. Brennan, former National Intelligence Director James Clapper, and former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, all of whom, McQuade argues, are being "publicly singled out" as part of Trump's "revenge tour."
"There is a reason that prosecutors require predication before an investigation can begin," McQuade explains. "Predication, defined as a credible factual allegation of either criminal activity or a threat to national security, is required by both the Justice Department's attorney general guidelines and the FBI's domestic investigations operations guide. And yet, at least one grand jury has reportedly been empaneled to investigate former government officials based only on vague allegations of 'lawfare' — a concept not addressed in any federal statute…. Predication exists to prevent abuses of power, including by the prosecutors who initiate criminal investigations."
Quiñones, McQuade laments, "seems to be ignoring" the "important requirements" of a traditional DOJ investigation.
"Rather than simply following facts and law to bring offenders to justice," McQuade observes, "this ongoing effort appears to be targeting members of the Obama Administration who initiated the investigation into connections between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Just as alarming, it fits the pattern we saw with the charges brought against (former FBI Director) James Comey and (New York State Attorney General) Letitia James."
The former DOJ prosecutor adds, "Earlier in December, Trump re-posted someone on social media implying former FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland should be arrested. Trump shared the comment, adding: '…And many others!!!' No matter that the five-year statute of limitations would appear to have expired long ago or that none of the investigative activity regarding Russia took place in Florida. After all, if the goal is simply to seek vengeance against perceived enemies, and charges are unlikely to withstand grand jury scrutiny, then issues like timelines or venue are practically irrelevant. Indeed, the Miami probe so far seems to be doing little more than rehash the completed investigations of two special counsels, an inspector general, and a Republican-led Senate panel, all of which found ample evidence of Russia's efforts to boost Trump in 2016."
Barbara McQuade's full MS NOW column is available at this link.