Politics
REPORT: Dan Bongino Contemplating Jaw-Dropping Move After Epstein Debacle
New reports say FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino took Friday off from work after allegedly having a heated encounter at the White House with Attorney General Pam Bondi. The explosive conversation concerned the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to four sources who spoke with Axios.
It all started on Wednesday in the midst of the fallout from the Trump administration confirmation that Epstein killed himself and a “client list” doesn’t exist.
The report states Bongino didn’t come into work on Friday, which has led insiders to believe he may quit his position. However, officials in the administration are saying he still occupies the deputy director position, despite the tension caused by the Epstein files case.
A source close to Bongino gave a conflicting report, saying, “He ain’t coming back.”
An article from CNN revealed that the fireworks began during a meeting on Wednesday at the White House, attended by Bongino, Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Both Bongino and Patel were asked if they were the individuals responsible for a story saying the bureau wanted to release more information, but couldn’t due to the Justice Department.
Bongino then came out and denied he was behind the leak to NewsNation, the outlet that published the story. However, he didn’t put his signature down on a statement defending the review that was included within that article.
CNN then reached out to both the FBI and Bongino specifically to ask for a comment on the situation. Sources revealed that the deputy director has not decided if he’ll remain in the position or not.
This is the latest development in an ongoing debacle with close advisers of President Donald Trump, both inside and outside the White House, expressing frustration with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files. Even some of the president’s closest allies have heaped intense criticism on the administration over the incident.
A source close to the matter told CNN, “The whole thing has been a complete mess and no one is happy.” A conflict between the FBI and the DOJ has been going on for months now concerning the handling of the Epstein files.
In February, Bondi held an event at the White House where pro-Trump influencers were given binders containing documents connected to Epstein. However, there was nothing new included in the files, which led to the attorney general receiving heavy criticism.
FBI Director Patel was not deeply involved in putting together that event. Bongino, however, had recently repeated promises that files would be released to the public, all while attempting to downplay what they contained.
While Bondi has taken a beating from some hefty names in the MAGA movement, Trump advisers revealed that the president “loves Pam and thinks she’s great.”
An administration official spoke with Axios about the meeting on Wednesday, saying, “Pam said her piece. Dan said his piece. It didn’t end on friendly terms. “The fact is, Dan was for releasing the information with the video and had no problem until he got heat online.”
“Bongino found the video with the missing minute. He vouched for it after a ‘thorough review,’ he said, and he thought this would end the matter. When that didn’t work, he lost his mind and ran out of D.C.,” the official continued.
Another source who appears to be firmly on Bongino’s side in the fray said, “Dan is not the bad guy here. He shouldn’t take the fall.”