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The ex-podcaster announced he would leave the FBI after US President Donald Trump told reporters he "wants to go back to his show".
Dan Bongino, appointed by President Donald Trump in February, announced his resignation as FBI deputy director, effective January. In a post on X, he expressed gratitude to President Trump, the FBI Director, and the US Attorney General for the opportunity to serve. Bongino did not explicitly state the reason for his departure. President Trump, prior to Bongino's announcement, had indicated that the former podcast host, who built a significant media presence, "wants to go back to his show" and praised his performance in office, stating he "did a great job." Before his appointment, Bongino had a background as a New York City police officer and a US Secret Service agent, having served on former President Barack Obama's protective detail. His appointment as FBI deputy director was seen as a surprise given his lack of prior experience with the agency, a role traditionally held by career agents.
Bongino's selection as FBI deputy director was widely regarded as unconventional due to his absence of prior experience within the agency, a stark contrast to the tradition of appointing career agents. This appointment drew opposition from the FBI Agents Association, an organization representing approximately 14,000 active and retired agents. In his resignation announcement on social media, Bongino reiterated his appreciation for the opportunity to serve under President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Director Kash Patel, also thanking "fellow Americans." His tenure and past public statements, however, were marked by controversy. Before assuming his FBI role, Bongino was known for promoting disinformation and conspiracy theories, including skepticism about the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and questioning the official narrative surrounding the January 6, 2021 pipe bomb investigation. He had controversially labeled the pipe bomb incident an "inside job" prior to his appointment. Upon entering office, he reportedly prioritized and actively pushed for progress in the pipe bomb investigation, which Attorney General Bondi had described as having "languished."
Bongino's leadership at the FBI saw notable developments in high-profile cases, particularly the long-stalled pipe bomb investigation. Shortly before his resignation announcement, an individual with no apparent government connections was arrested in connection with the pipe bombs discovered almost six years prior at the Republican and Democratic national headquarters. FBI Director Patel lauded Bongino's efforts, attributing "major breakthroughs" in cold cases like the pipe bomb investigation to his commitment to transparency, stating that Bongino "far exceeded" his mission. Additionally, Bongino's stance on the death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein underwent a significant shift after he assumed his role within the FBI. Previously, as a public commentator, he had voiced skepticism regarding the official cause of death, suggesting Epstein did not die by suicide in his prison cell in 2019. However, in May, post-appointment, Bongino publicly affirmed, "I have seen the whole file. He killed himself." This statement aligned with a memo released by the US Justice Department and FBI in July, which concluded Epstein's death was suicide and denied the existence of a "client list." This official finding, however, reportedly caused frustration among many of Trump's supporters who had propagated Epstein conspiracy theories. The memo also reportedly led to a "contentious meeting" between Bongino and Attorney General Bondi, who supervises the FBI. Despite these complexities, Bondi publicly acknowledged Bongino's FBI service, crediting him with making "Americans safer."