In a preemptive strike against an impending New York Times article, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino issued a scathing rebuke to the publication just one day before it released a critical piece about leadership reforms at the Bureau under Director Kash Patel and himself.
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who transformed into a conservative media figure before joining the FBI leadership, took to social media Sunday to address what he described as sensationalized reporting about a wrestling match with fellow agents.
“Adam Goldman of the NY Times is getting ready to run another one of their ‘journalism’ exposé pieces about me spending time in our FBI training facility ground fighting with our dedicated and skilled defensive tactics instructors,” Bongino wrote.
“Their big news ‘hook’ is that after a solid few rounds of grappling, I injured my shoulder.”
The 50-year-old deputy director acknowledged losing the bout against a younger, skilled instructor but downplayed the incident, clarifying that he experienced “a bit of swelling in my right elbow, not shoulder,” attributing it to age rather than a serious injury.
He defended his decision to participate, stating, “I felt it was important to get on the mats any way, because that’s what men do.”
When published, the Times article did not mention any injury from the sparring match, despite Bongino’s preemptive correction.
The article instead highlighted criticism from Kyle Seraphin, a former agent who previously supported Patel but recently criticized the director for “taking selfies with the Hostage Rescue Team” and suggested FBI culture may have “captured” the leadership duo.
The Times report also delved into Director Patel’s personal life, noting his reported romantic interest in 26-year-old country music singer Alexis Wilkins, whom he has visited multiple times in Nashville.
The article criticized Patel for using the FBI’s private jet for these travels, though agency security protocols often require such transportation for the director.
The Times portrayed Patel’s approach to the directorship as image-focused, highlighting his attendance at UFC fights and an NFL game where he sat next to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
Anonymous former agents contrasted Patel’s public profile with former directors like Louis Freeh, who avoided the spotlight, and Robert Mueller, who cultivated public attention in different ways.
As of Monday morning, Director Patel had not responded to the Times article.
His social media accounts maintained their official focus, highlighting the Bureau’s work arresting criminal illegal immigrants and conducting successful operations alongside U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents.
“Together with our law enforcement partners, we are actively working to identify, disrupt, and dismantle their networks. We will not allow foreign-backed criminal organizations to take root in our communities,” Patel stated in a recent post.
Bongino made headlines in early March for his radio show’s strategic handover to Daily Caller editorial director Vince Coglianese.
Coglianese, who has previously demonstrated familiarity with the show’s format by serving as a guest host, has since assumed leadership of the platform.
Bongino expressed unwavering confidence in his chosen successor, emphasizing Coglianese’s capabilities.
“He is fantastic, I promise you I only bring the best people, you are gonna love him,” the outgoing host stated, highlighting the careful consideration behind the selection.
