FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly considering resignation amid tensions over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Bongino took a day off on Friday, reflecting his growing frustration with the situation.
A source told Fox News that Bongino has not been seen at the FBI office since Wednesday and has yet to decide on his future.
His consideration to step down follows a heated confrontation with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House that same day, multiple sources confirmed.
Despite the clash, Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have reportedly been in contact several times recently and remain aligned in their approach to the Epstein case.
A source close to Bondi said she does not plan to resign and remains proud of the Justice Department’s work.
Similarly, a source close to Patel indicated that the FBI director is satisfied with his role and has no plans to leave. The White House also emphasized unity among the leadership team working on law enforcement efforts.
“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,” said White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields.
He added that any reports of division within the team are unfounded and distract from their progress.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back against reports of internal discord on Friday. He tweeted that he worked closely with both Patel and Bongino on the joint FBI and DOJ memo about the Epstein files, and all parties approved the content and conclusions.
Blanche stated, “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.”
The DOJ and FBI jointly released a review on Sunday addressing longstanding conspiracy theories. Their report concluded there is no “client list” naming high-profile individuals allegedly involved in Epstein’s crimes.
The department also reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in his New York City jail cell in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges.
President Donald Trump addressed questions about Epstein during a recent White House Cabinet meeting. When a reporter raised the topic, Trump interrupted and called Epstein a “creep,” questioning the ongoing focus on the case.
“Can I just interrupt for one second?” Trump said. “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years. You’re asking… We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.”
Public backlash followed the release of a surveillance video from Epstein’s jail cell, which was used to show no one entered the cell during the hours before his death. However, the 10-hour footage had one minute missing, fueling conspiracy theories about a possible cover-up.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the administration’s support for Attorney General Bondi. She praised Bondi’s work on the “Make America Safe Again” agenda and efforts to restore DOJ integrity.
Leavitt said the continued focus on alleged division within President Trump’s Cabinet is “baseless and unfounded in reality.”
The controversy over the Epstein files continues to generate significant media attention and public speculation.
Officials insist that the Justice Department and FBI leadership remain unified despite reports of internal conflict.
Bongino’s potential resignation would mark a significant development in the ongoing fallout from the Epstein investigation.
