Dan Bongino, President Donald Trump's fiery pick as Deputy FBI Director, abruptly resigned on December 17, 2025, less than a year into his controversial stint, citing irreconcilable clashes over the Jeffrey Epstein files probe that pitted him against Attorney General Pam Bondi amid MAGA backlash. The conservative podcaster-turned-G-man, sworn in early 2025, bowed out amid fallout from a DOJ memo debunking Epstein murder theories and client lists, sparking fury from Trump allies who accused the FBI of stonewalling disclosures on the financier's 2019 jail death.
Bongino's exit follows heated White House showdowns with Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, where he reportedly fumed over a 60-second surveillance gap in Epstein's cell footage and DOJ's handling that fueled conspiracy flames despite official suicide rulings. Sources revealed Bongino skipped work amid resignation whispers, defending his leak denials while privately blasting Bondi's oversight as a "disaster," though he recommitted briefly before finalizing his departure in January.
This shakeup exposes rifts in Trump's law enforcement overhaul, with Bongino's conservative bona fides clashing against institutional probes, leaving Patel to steady the ship as Epstein saga critics demand deeper digs into elite ties.