FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino officially announced on Wednesday that he will leave his position in January.
“I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose,” he said.
“Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” he added.
President Donald Trump hinted at the news on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews earlier in the afternoon, saying, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, had no FBI experience before Trump tapped him for the No. 2 position. Prior to Bongino, the role had been held by someone with bureau experience for over a century, according to the FBI Agents Association. The position does not require Senate confirmation.
It is not immediately clear who will take Bongino’s place.
Reports indicated that Bongino considered resigning in July after the FBI and Justice Department issued a joint memo stating they had completed an “exhaustive” review of investigative files relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, concluding no additional charges would be filed and no further information released.
Sources told reporters at the time that Bongino got into a heated argument with Attorney General Pam Bondi following the release of the memo, which sparked outrage among some Trump supporters.
Before joining the administration, Bongino hosted a podcast where he alleged there had been a massive coverup involving the Epstein files.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back on reports that Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel were upset about the memo, writing in a post: “All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. 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.”
Bongino did not return to work for at least one day after the argument with Bondi but ultimately stayed.