Journalist Rachel Bade reports that FBI Assistant Director Dan Bongino could leave his post "any day" amid reported clashes over his handling of Epstein-related documents. Colleagues allegedly accused him of prioritizing his reputation with "MAGA World" over the unit's interests, and he reportedly had a heated exchange with then-Attorney General Pam Bondi. The dispute coincides with recent legal moves — including the Epstein Files Transparency Act and court orders to unseal grand jury materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Report: Rachel Bade Says Dan Bongino Could Leave FBI Role 'Any Day'
FBI Assistant Director Dan Bongino could be forced out of his post "any day," according to reporting by journalist Rachel Bade on her Substack newsletter, The Inner Circle.
Bade wrote that Bongino has clashed with colleagues in the West Wing and with members of the Trump administration over his handling of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Her reporting did not make clear whether his departure would be the result of a firing or a voluntary resignation.
Sources told Bade that senior staff complained Bongino prioritized his personal standing with "MAGA World" over the unit's collective interests. Bade also described a "fiery confrontation" between Bongino and then-Attorney General Pam Bondi about the release of a Department of Justice/FBI memo that said there was no Epstein client list and no evidence that Epstein was blackmailing "prominent individuals." ABC News covered that exchange when the memo was released.
Axios reported earlier this year that Bongino did not show up for work after the dispute with Bondi, prompting questions about whether he had effectively quit. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who later became a conservative commentator and podcaster, rose to prominence in part by promoting the theory that Epstein was murdered in jail — a claim the DOJ/FBI memo rejected. Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
"Since then, it's been sour grapes where he's concerned in the West Wing," Bade wrote. "The expectation is that he'll leave eventually; one person told me he's told others he won't be in the job much longer."
Separately, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, and President Donald Trump signed it into law. That legislation prompted U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman to order the unsealing of secret grand jury transcripts tied to Epstein. Two other judges recently ordered release of similar material related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell was convicted on federal sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison. She has said that former President Donald Trump was "not involved" in the trafficking, and Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Note: The developments reported by Rachel Bade reflect ongoing internal disputes and legal actions; some details (including any personnel decisions) remain unconfirmed pending official statements.
