Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino has emerged at the center of a contentious dispute within the Trump administration regarding the management of documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. This internal conflict raises questions about Bongino’s future in his current role, as tensions escalate with Justice Department leaders.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill that Bongino is dissatisfied with the way Epstein’s records have been handled, leading to confrontations with high-ranking officials within the Justice Department this week. Spokespeople from both the FBI and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on the situation. Reports from multiple news outlets, including CNN and Semafor, indicate that Bongino was absent from work on Friday and is contemplating resigning from his position.
Earlier in the week, Bongino reportedly had a clash with Attorney General Pam Bondi. The potential for his resignation was initially suggested by far-right activist Laura Loomer, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, who has called for Bondi’s ousting. Loomer has previously met with Trump at the White House, further highlighting the tension within the administration.
A joint memo released by the Justice Department and the FBI stated that Epstein did not maintain a client list and confirmed his death by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019. These findings have angered many within the MAGA movement, who have long pushed conspiracy theories regarding Epstein’s demise and suggested that prominent Democrats would be implicated in a client list.
According to the FBI memo, the documents and evidence sealed by court order “served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing.” Bondi has faced considerable backlash for her earlier promises of transparency regarding the Epstein files. During a defense of the DOJ’s handling of the case, she referenced an interview from February in which she claimed an Epstein client list was “sitting on my desk” for review, clarifying that she meant a variety of files related to the Epstein case.
FBI leadership indicated earlier this week that they would have unsealed evidence relevant to the Epstein case if circumstances allowed, which appears to criticize DOJ leadership’s handling of the situation. Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, sought to quell speculation regarding any rift among senior leaders over the Epstein case, stating, “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo.” He added that any suggestion of discord between the FBI and DOJ leadership regarding the memo’s composition and release is “patently false.”
Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel were both seen as celebrated appointments among Trump’s base, with Bongino possessing a significant following. A source close to the White House remarked, “A lot of the grassroots know Dan Bongino. So they may not trust the FBI, they may not trust the DOJ, but they trust Dan Bongino.”
Before his role in government, Bongino served as a police officer and a Secret Service agent. He previously hosted a radio show and podcast where he discussed various conspiracy theories, including those surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and the Epstein case. In a 2023 episode, he emphasized the importance of the Epstein story, urging listeners not to overlook it.
Jeffrey Epstein, who faced numerous allegations of sex trafficking involving young girls, was connected to numerous high-profile individuals, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Britain’s Prince Andrew. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been convicted on charges related to sex trafficking.
