FBI Deputy Director may quit over Epstein file, managed by Trump's AG
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FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly considering resignation over Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of Jeffrey Epstein case files, according to media reports.
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Conservative commentator Dan Bongino speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., March 6, 2014 (AP)
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly weighing resignation due to dissatisfaction with US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to a report published Friday by Semafor, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Though no formal resignation has been tendered, one source noted that Bongino is essentially “gone,” adding that he would only consider returning if Bondi is “held accountable.” The reported tension comes amid renewed scrutiny over the case files tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
As of now, neither the FBI nor the Department of Justice has issued a public comment regarding Bongino’s status or the reported internal disagreement. The developments reflect broader concerns within federal law enforcement over the handling of sensitive investigations tied to high-profile figures.
Bongino joins FBI, retracts Epstein stance
This came after a newly surfaced internal memo from the Department of Justice, obtained by Axios, revealed that the Trump administration's DOJ and FBI officially concluded that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a so-called "client list" or blackmail network involving powerful individuals.
The findings directly challenge years of speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding the financier’s death in 2019.
Notably, two former high-profile skeptics of the Epstein suicide narrative, Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, have since taken on senior roles in the FBI. Bongino, once a vocal critic of the DOJ’s handling of the case, publicly reversed his stance in May. “He killed himself,” he told Fox News. “I’ve seen the whole file.”
Their shift marks a rare break from far-right media narratives, many of which have long insisted Epstein’s death was a cover-up. Patel and Bongino, once regulars on conservative talk shows questioning Epstein’s death, now appear aligned with the DOJ’s official conclusion.
Bondi appointed AG as Trump linked to Epstein
The Republican-controlled US Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as attorney general in February, elevating one of former President Donald Trump’s most loyal allies to lead the Justice Department.
Trump and Epstein's bond dated back decades, flying from New York to Palm Beach together, partying at the Mar-a-Lago Club, and dining together at Epstein's Manhattan house.
In 2002, Trump told New York magazine that Epstein was a terrific man, divulging he had known him for 15 years and saying that he was "a lot of fun to be with."
Trump’s connection to Epstein has fueled countless conspiracy theories online. Then, Elon Musk’s recent claim that Trump is named in the Epstein files has reignited public scrutiny of their relationship.
In June, Musk accused Trump of being named in the Epstein files. Trump fired back by posting a statement from Epstein’s former attorney, David Schoen, asserting the former president was not implicated in any crimes. Musk later walked back the claim, deleting the posts and admitting he “went too far.”
Though Trump told reporters in 2019 that he had not spoken to Epstein in 15 years and had banned him from his properties, records show the two were socially linked in the 1990s. In a 2017 interview, Epstein referred to Trump as "my closest friend."
However, a new YouGov poll reveals that 40% of Americans believe Trump was connected to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes, while most doubt justice will be served.
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