Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is on the heart of inside combating within the Trump administration concerning the dealing with of information associated to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, resulting in questions on Bongino’s future in his function.
A supply aware of the matter confirmed to The Hill that Bongino is livid over the dealing with of the Epstein paperwork and has clashed with Justice Division leaders over the problem this week.
The FBI didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The White Home, in the meantime, referred to as any indications of divisions “baseless.”
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims,” White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement. “This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.”
A number of information shops, together with CNN and Semafor, reported Bongino was not at work Friday and was mulling whether or not to resign from his place. Axios first reported that Bongino had fought with Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi earlier within the week.
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and staunch Trump supporter, was first to lift the chance that Bongino was contemplating resigning. Loomer, who has met with Trump on the White Home, referred to as for Bondi to be ousted.
The Justice Division and FBI issued a joint memo earlier this week that said Epstein didn’t have a consumer listing and confirmed he died by suicide in his New York Metropolis jail cell in 2019. The findings incensed members of the MAGA motion, who’ve for years pushed conspiracy theories about Epstein’s demise and claims that outstanding Democrats can be named on a consumer listing.
The information and proof below court-ordered seal, the FBI memo launched Monday stated, “served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing.”
Bondi particularly has confronted intense backlash given her feedback earlier this 12 months pledging transparency across the Epstein information. The legal professional basic on Tuesday defended the DOJ’s dealing with of the proof.
She additionally addressed an interview she did in February through which she stated an Epstein consumer listing was “sitting on” her “desk” to be reviewed. She asserted she was referring to a wide range of information associated to the Epstein case.
The Hill’s sister community, NewsNation, reported earlier this week that FBI leaders would have unsealed proof associated to the Epstein case if that they had been ready to take action, a thinly veiled swipe at DOJ management.
Deputy Legal professional Normal Todd Blanche earlier Friday sought to tamp down hypothesis a few rift amongst senior leaders over the Epstein case.
“All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo,” Blanche posted on social platform X. “The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.”
Each Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel have been celebrated picks to guide the bureau amongst Trump’s base and the MAGA trustworthy.
“A lot of the grassroots know Dan Bongino. So they may not trust the FBI, they may not trust the DOJ, but they trust Dan Bongino,” one supply near the White Home instructed The Hill.
Bongino is a former police officer and Secret Service agent. Previous to becoming a member of the federal government, he hosted a radio present and podcast the place he pushed, amongst different issues, conspiracy theories concerning the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and the Epstein case.
“Listen, that Jeffrey Epstein story is a big deal, please do not let that story go. Keep your eye on this,” Bongino instructed his listeners in 2023.
Epstein, accused in a number of circumstances of intercourse trafficking younger women, ran in high-powered circles with figures that included Trump, former President Clinton, Britain’s Prince Andrew and numerous different celebrities and ultrawealthy people. Epstein’s affiliate, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been convicted of intercourse trafficking.
