Top lawyer in DOJ's Civil Division is latest in string of resignations

The top lawyer in the Justice Department's Civil Division, Brett Shumate, resigned on Monday, joining a series of departures following Democrats' return to power in the House and Senate during the midterm elections. Shumate, an assistant attorney general, tendered his resignation amid a surge of lawsuits defending the federal government since President Trump's administration took office.

Attorney General Todd Blanche commended Shumate for challenging sanctuary policies and winning key lawsuits against local measures endangering federal law enforcement. However, Shumate's resignation came as a surprise to his colleagues, who were unprepared for the sudden departure. The news follows the recent exits of assistant attorneys general from the Justice Department's national security and civil rights divisions, leaving those key offices without Senate-confirmed leadership.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida overseeing the grand conspiracy investigation into former Obama and Biden-era intelligence officials also resigned last week. Shumate, a former Jones Day partner, was regarded as a steady and decent leader in the Civil Division during the chaotic period of Trump's first term.