Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director

Dan Bongino said he will leave his post as deputy FBI director in January.

“I want to thank President Trump, AG (Pam) Bondi, and Director (Kash) Patel for the opportunity to serve their purpose,” Bongino wrote of X.

This comes after US President Donald Trump said earlier on Wednesday that the former podcast host was “doing a great job” in the office and that he “wants to get back on his show.”

Bongino, who was appointed to the post by Donald Trump in February, was previously a New York City police officer and a US Secret Service agent. In recent years, he has gained a large following through his podcasts and other media releases.

Bongino, a staunch ally of Trump, was considered a surprise choice for the position previously held by career representatives because he had no previous experience with the agency.

The FBI Agents Association, which represents about 14,000 current and former agents, had opposed his appointment to the job.

He announced his decision in a social media post on Wednesday, saying: “I will be leaving my position at the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve purposefully.”

“Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege of serving you. God bless America and all who defend it.”

In July, Bongino’s frustration with the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files led to a contentious meeting between him and Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to the BBC’s media partner CBS News.