Washington, D.C. , 18 December (H.S.): Former conservative podcaster Dan Bongino announced Wednesday his resignation as FBI deputy director, effective January, capping a contentious nine-month tenure marked by internal reforms and high-profile arrests.
In a post on X, Bongino expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose, while hailing the privilege of safeguarding Americans .
Trump, speaking to reporters hours earlier, praised Bongino's performance, noting the ex-New York Police officer and Secret Service agent did a great job and yearns to resume his media ventures.
Unorthodox Rise and Turbulent Reforms
Appointed sans Senate confirmation on February 23 by Trump alongside Patel—both FBI novices—Bongino upended tradition, sharing duties since summer with ex-Missouri AG Andrew Bailey amid pushback from the FBI Agents Association representing 14,000 personnel.
Critics decried his pre-agency promotion of 2020 election falsehoods and January 6 pipe bomb conspiracies, yet he championed accountability, slashing waste, bolstering field operations, and prioritizing stalled probes. Patel lauded Bongino as the people's voice for transparency, crediting him with breakthroughs in cold cases that far exceeded expectations.
Pipe Bomb Arrest and Epstein RecantationBongino's leadership galvanized the January 6 pipe bomb investigation—long dubbed an inside job by skeptics—yielding December's arrest of Virginia resident Brian Cole Jr., uncovered via reanalysis of three million data lines despite no fresh tips.
He also pivoted on Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 death, affirming suicide post-file review in May, a stance echoed in a July DOJ-FBI memo debunking client lists that irked Trump allies and sparked clashes with Bondi .
Bondi affirmed Americans stand safer owing to his service, as Bongino departs amid scrutiny over Patel's travel and the bureau's overhaul.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
