Bongino Steps Down from Role as FBI Deputy Director

Dan Bongino, the FBI's deputy director appointed by President Donald Trump, announced on Wednesday that he would be leaving the bureau in January. 

Bongino, who was previously a Secret Service agent and New York City police officer, thanked President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve, writing on social media, "I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you."

While Bongino did not elaborate on the reasons for his departure, Trump expressed approval of Bongino’s work, stating, "Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show," referring to Bongino’s past as a conservative podcaster. Bongino’s time at the FBI was marked by controversies surrounding his outspoken views, which were often at odds with the agency’s official stance.

Bongino’s appointment as deputy director in February raised eyebrows due to his lack of prior experience in law enforcement leadership roles within the FBI. His selection, as well as the broader reshuffling of top officials during Trump’s administration, drew criticism from many career agents, with the FBI Agents Association opposing Bongino’s rise to the role. Despite these tensions, Bongino focused on high-profile investigations, notably the case involving the pipe bombs planted near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters on January 6th, 2021, the day of the Capitol riot.

His leadership in the investigation was praised by Bondi, who credited him with bringing new focus to the case. "This case languished. It sat there for four years, collecting dust. No one did anything to solve this, and right when Kash Patel and Dan Bongino came in, Dan said to me, ‘I’m going to solve this case,’" she said. The arrest of a suspect earlier this month marked a significant development in the long-unsolved case.

Despite this success, Bongino's tenure was marred by his frequent engagement on social media, where he continued to promote conspiracy theories that often contradicted official FBI findings. Notably, Bongino had previously voiced doubts about the official conclusion regarding the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting the incident was part of a cover-up. After taking office, however, Bongino appeared to soften his stance, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity, "I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions… But that’s not what I’m paid for now."

Internally, Bongino’s time at the FBI was marked by a strained relationship with some senior agents, who felt his focus on social media and right-wing narratives distracted from the bureau’s core mission. Former agents also criticized his handling of personnel matters, as his tenure coincided with efforts to purge the agency of individuals perceived as disloyal to Trump’s agenda.

His departure comes at a time of increasing instability within the FBI. In August, Andrew Bailey, the former Missouri attorney general, was brought in as co-deputy director, a decision that many saw as a vote of no confidence in Bongino’s leadership. The move has left many wondering about the future direction of the FBI under the Trump administration’s appointees, particularly Patel, who remains in charge as FBI director.