Dan Bongino to Depart as FBI Deputy Director in January

Fri Dec 19 2025 04:48:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent social media announcement, Dan Bongino declared his upcoming resignation from his position as the deputy director of the FBI, set for January. The news highlights his tenure marked by disagreements concerning his appointment and controversial statements as a public figure.

Dan Bongino, appointed by President Trump as the FBI's deputy director in February, has announced he will step down in January. Acknowledged for his service but surrounded by controversy, Bongino expressed gratitude to Trump and other officials in his farewell message. Critics had previously opposed his appointment due to his lack of traditional law enforcement experience. Bongino's term has included pushing for investigations into high-profile cases while navigating the fallout from conspiracy theories.

Dan Bongino to Depart as FBI Deputy Director in January

3 hours ago

Dan Bongino has said he will leave his role as the FBI's deputy director in January.

In a post on social media, he thanked President Donald Trump, the director of the FBI, and the US attorney general, stating, for the opportunity to serve with purpose.” Bongino did not disclose reasons for his resignation.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump commended Bongino, saying he "did a great job" and expressed that Bongino wished to return to his show.

Bongino, who was appointed by Trump in February, gained popularity through his podcast and various media appearances. He previously served as a New York City police officer and a US Secret Service agent, notably assigned to protect former President Barack Obama.

Considered a surprise choice for the role, Bongino's appointment was controversial due to his lack of background in the FBI, contrasting with his predecessors who were career agents. This drew criticism particularly from the FBI Agents Association, which comprises approximately 14,000 current and former agents.

In his resignation announcement, Bongino expressed gratitude to various officials, stating, I want to thank President Trump, AG [Pam] Bondi, and Director [Kash] Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her.\

Before joining the FBI, Bongino had shared controversy by promoting disinformation theories surrounding Trump's claims regarding election fraud, and he was vocal about the investigation into the January 6 pipe bomb incidents. During his tenure, he emphasized the urgency of this case, which Attorney General Bondi had indicated had seen little action in the past.

A recent arrest in that case occurred nearly six years after the bombs were discovered outside the national headquarters of both parties.

In a statement on social media following Bongino's announcement, Director Patel acknowledged Bongino's contributions, praising him for providing a people's voice for transparency and delivering breakthroughs in long-standing investigations.

Bongino's perspective on the Jeffrey Epstein case evolved as he lifted his role in the FBI, transitioning from questioning the official narrative surrounding Epstein's demise to affirming he had died by suicide, according to his updated views shared earlier this year.

The FBI had released findings regarding Epstein’s death that conflicted with earlier conspiracy theories, leading to discontent among segments of Trump’s supporters regarding the investigations. This culminated in some tense exchanges between Bongino and AG Bondi.

Ultimately, Bondi noted in her post that, Americans are safer due to Bongino's service at the FBI.