Is the FBI about to lose one of its top brass over a clash with the Attorney General?
According to the Daily Wire, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is reportedly ready to walk away from his role due to a heated conflict with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a dispute that has also drawn in FBI Director Kash Patel and could shake up the Trump administration.
Bongino, who left a high-paying gig in broadcasting to join the administration in February, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Bondi’s approach to the Epstein case.
Back in February, Bondi claimed she had Epstein’s so-called client list ready for review, raising hopes for major revelations in a case that has long fueled public suspicion.
Fast forward five months, and no bombshell details have emerged, leaving Bongino and others frustrated over what they see as unfulfilled promises.
By Wednesday, tensions boiled over, with a source close to Bongino telling Axios, “He ain’t coming back,” hinting at a resignation that could be imminent.
Bongino’s frustration isn’t new; even before joining the administration, he questioned the circumstances of Epstein’s death, though he later reviewed files and video in May, concluding it was suicide.
FBI Director Kash Patel agrees with that assessment, stating the evidence shows no murder, yet he, too, pushes for more transparency, urging Bondi to unseal additional documents.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice declared just days before Wednesday’s clash that no evidence exists of a client list or blackmail by Epstein, directly contradicting Bondi’s earlier statements.
Bondi attempted to clarify her stance in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, saying, “It’s sitting on my desk,” referring to the broader Epstein file, not a specific list. She added, “That’s what I meant,” but the walk-back hasn’t quelled the criticism from Bongino, whose social media has gone eerily silent since Wednesday’s reported spat.
Adding fuel to the fire, over 10 hours of video from Epstein’s jail cell hallway were released by the DOJ and FBI, yet sharp-eyed observers noted a missing minute of footage, reigniting skepticism.
President Trump, caught off guard by questions on Epstein during a Cabinet meeting, called the timing “unbelievable” and a “desecration” given other pressing national issues.
While Trump’s frustration is understandable, the internal drama at the FBI and DOJ isn’t likely to fade quietly, especially with Patel also reportedly wanting Bondi out and considering leaving alongside Bongino.
This isn’t just a personal feud; it’s a battle over transparency and trust in institutions that many conservatives, already wary of bureaucratic stonewalling, are watching closely. If Bongino and possibly Patel exit, it could signal deeper cracks in the administration’s efforts to clean house and deliver on promises of accountability. After all, when even the gatekeepers can’t agree on opening the gate, what hope is there for the public to see the full picture?
