Dan Bongino, the deputy director of the FBI, confirmed Wednesday that he will resign from his position in January, marking a swift end to a tenure that drew attention both for his prominence in conservative media and for internal tensions within the Justice Department.
Bongino announced his decision in a social media post, expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel and others in the administration. His departure follows reports earlier in the day that he had privately informed associates of his intention to leave early in the new year and that he would not return to FBI headquarters this month.
President Trump publicly acknowledged Bongino’s decision, saying he believed the former agent planned to return to media work and praising his performance at the bureau.
According to reporting by MS Now, Bongino had considered making his resignation public later this week. When contacted by the outlet prior to his confirmation, Bongino declined to address the reports directly.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and New York City police officer, became a high-profile figure in conservative politics after leaving government service, building a large following through radio, podcasting and online commentary. He previously hosted and guest-hosted programs on national conservative talk shows and later launched The Dan Bongino Show and the Bongino Report.
His appointment as FBI deputy director was controversial given his long history of sharp partisan commentary and promotion of conspiracy theories. Over the years, Bongino had repeatedly accused political opponents of criminal behavior and portrayed federal law enforcement as part of a so-called deep-state effort targeting Trump and his allies.
Earlier this year, Bongino became emotional during a television appearance while discussing the personal toll of his move to Washington, describing the strain the job placed on his family life. More recently, he sought to distance himself from past claims regarding the unresolved pipe bomb investigation tied to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, emphasizing that his role at the FBI required decisions grounded in evidence rather than opinion.
Reports have also indicated that Bongino clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over her decision not to release files related to the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.
The FBI declined to comment on Bongino’s resignation.
Source: The Guardian