Summary: Reports of turmoil in the FBI’s senior leadership under Trump appointees Dan Bongino and Kash Patel have raised concerns about the bureau’s capacity to carry out urgent investigations. A congressional dossier described Bongino as "something of a clown," and the White House installed a co‑deputy director, widely viewed as oversight. Patel faces allegations of misusing FBI resources, using a government jet for personal travel, and repeatedly making premature public statements about active investigations — most recently in the wake of the Brown University shooting, where the suspect remains at large.
Chaos at the Top of Trump’s FBI Raises Concerns Over Public Safety
This article is adapted from the Dec. 15 episode of The Rachel Maddow Show.
Leadership Turmoil
Reports of turmoil in the FBI’s senior ranks have intensified attention on two Trump appointees: Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Director Kash Patel. Multiple sources say Bongino — a former right‑wing podcaster and the first person appointed to the FBI deputy director role without prior bureau experience — may soon leave the agency.
A confidential report prepared for Congress by active‑duty and retired agents described Bongino as "something of a clown," according to accounts. Some reports say he has cleared out his office; others say he remains officially on staff but is weighing his future. The White House also installed an unprecedented co‑deputy director to share the role, widely seen as a supervisory measure and a likely precursor to a replacement.
Allegations Against The Director
Bongino’s boss, Kash Patel, has generated his own controversy. Media reports allege Patel diverted members of an elite FBI SWAT team to provide security for his girlfriend and had agents drive an allegedly intoxicated friend of that girlfriend home on more than one occasion. Other reports say he has used a government jet for personal travel, including trips to visit a romantic partner, a golfing trip to Scotland, and a stay at a Texas hunting resort called the Boondoggle Ranch. These allegations have contributed to reports that the White House is considering Patel’s removal.
Dan Bongino; Rachel Maddow.
Premature Public Statements
Patel has also been criticized for public statements about investigations that later proved inaccurate. The Wall Street Journal reported that Patel prematurely celebrated the disruption of an alleged terror plot in Michigan, and that advance publicity allowed some suspects or their associates to accelerate plans to leave the country; one suspect was only intercepted at the last moment. In another widely reported incident, Patel posted on social media that a "subject" in the Charlie Kirk shooting was "in custody," then retracted the claim roughly 90 minutes later when that person was released.
The Brown University Case
After a shooter killed two people and injured nine at Brown University, Patel again posted on social media that a person of interest was in custody. Hours later that person was released. As of Tuesday afternoon, the actual suspect remained at large; the FBI subsequently released new photos of a person of interest described as armed and dangerous and announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspect.
Why This Matters
Observers warn that leadership instability and public misstatements could undermine the bureau’s effectiveness and public trust, potentially hampering urgent investigations and law‑enforcement operations. That concern is particularly acute in cases where rapid, precise action and clear public communication are essential for public safety.
Allison Detzel contributed reporting.
The post "The chaos at the top of Trump’s FBI could have grave consequences" first appeared on MS NOW. This article was originally published on ms.now.
