Top lawyer in Justice Department’s Civil Division is latest in string of resignations

November 9, 2026 / 5:37 PM EST / CBS News

The top lawyer in the Justice Department's Civil Division resigned on Monday, marking the latest in a wave of departures since Democrats won back control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections.

Brett Shumate, the assistant attorney general of the Civil Division, tendered his resignation on Monday, leaving behind a division that has been struggling to keep pace as it defends the federal government in a flurry of lawsuits since President Trump took office.

Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a statement on X, praised Shumate for pursuing "important affirmative litigation to challenge sanctuary policies" and for "delivering key wins in lawsuits against local policies that endangered federal law enforcement."

Last week, the assistant attorneys general for the Justice Department's national security and civil rights divisions also departed, leaving those key offices without Senate-confirmed leadership as well. The U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida who was overseeing the so-called "grand conspiracy" investigation into Obama and Biden-era intelligence officials also departed last week.

T. Elliot Gaiser, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel, meanwhile, is being considered by Mr. Trump to be nominated…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/