Dan Bongino, the second-in-command at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is reportedly planning to leave his position early in the coming year. This development, based on information from confidants, was first reported by MS NOW. Bongino, who holds the bureau's second-highest rank directly under Director Kash Patel, has already indicated he will not be returning to the FBI headquarters this month.
Timing and Reaction to the Departure News
Sources informed MS NOW that Bongino has thought about making a formal announcement regarding his exit this Friday. When journalists approached him for confirmation, Bongino chose not to directly address the rumours. His response was cryptic: “Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway. Thanks.” The FBI itself has also declined to offer any statement on these reports.
Bongino's journey to the top of the FBI was unconventional. He was personally appointed to the role by former US President Donald Trump, despite having no prior experience working within the bureau. His background as a former police officer and Secret Service agent was overshadowed by his later career in conservative media. His appointment faced significant criticism due to his history of commenting on various conspiracy theories.
A Tenure Marked by Past Controversial Statements
Before joining the FBI, Bongino had publicly questioned official narratives on high-profile cases. Regarding the pipe bombs discovered in Washington D.C. on January 5, 2021, he had suggested it was an “inside job.” However, after Brian Cole Jr. was arrested and charged with planting those devices earlier this month, Bongino's public stance shifted. Appearing on Fox News as the Deputy Director, he stated the investigation would be strictly fact-based, adding, “That’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director.”
Another major point of contention was the death of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Bongino had previously labelled the official suicide ruling a conspiracy theory. After assuming his FBI role, he reviewed the case and publicly reversed his position. In a post on X in May, he stated, “I have reviewed the case. Jeffrey Epstein killed himself. There’s no evidence in the case file indicating otherwise.” This alignment with the official FBI memo from July—which affirmed the suicide and denied the existence of a rumoured 'client list'—caused backlash among some Trump supporters. Reports indicate it even led to a confrontation between Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House.
Significance and Potential Implications
The timing of this reported departure is notable. It coincides with a Friday deadline for the Trump administration to comply with a bipartisan law requiring the release of government documents related to the Epstein investigations. Bongino's exit, if it proceeds, would mark the end of a short but highly controversial tenure at the pinnacle of American federal law enforcement.
His planned stepping down raises questions about leadership stability within the FBI and highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding the bureau's investigations and public pronouncements. The role of political appointees in key investigative agencies continues to be a subject of intense debate in Washington.
