FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino found himself at the center of a storm on Friday, July 11, 2025, after a heated dispute with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The clash, which reportedly took place at the White House just two days earlier, has not only sparked speculation about Bongino’s future but also exposed deep fissures within the Trump administration’s law enforcement team.
The conflict erupted following the administration’s announcement earlier in the week that no credible evidence existed of a so-called "client list" implicating high-profile individuals in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring, nor was there proof that Epstein was murdered while in custody in 2019. This announcement, intended to quell rampant conspiracy theories, instead inflamed tensions among President Donald Trump’s supporters and within the agencies tasked with managing the investigation.
Sources familiar with the situation told Axios and CNN that Bongino took a day off on Friday, sparking rumors that he might be resigning. While administration officials insisted he remained in his position, a source close to Bongino bluntly stated, "he ain't coming back." The deputy director’s absence from work marked the first since the Wednesday confrontation, which also involved FBI Director Kash Patel, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich.
At the heart of the dispute was a 10-hour surveillance video from outside Epstein’s Manhattan jail cell on the day of his death, August 10, 2019. Bongino, who had previously promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death during his time as a conservative podcaster, discovered the footage during the investigation and publicly vouched for it as definitive proof that Epstein was not murdered. However, the video contained a mysterious "missing minute," a gap explained by authorities as the result of the jail’s outdated surveillance system resetting daily at midnight, during which 60 seconds are not recorded.
Despite this official explanation, the missing minute fueled widespread speculation and conspiracy theories within the MAGA community, many of whom believed it pointed to a cover-up. Internally, Bongino was blamed for the oversight of the video’s missing segment, which only intensified the friction between him and Bondi. Sources revealed that Bongino was increasingly frustrated with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files, accusing her of overpromising disclosures about a client list that ultimately did not exist.
The confrontation reportedly became heated when Bondi accused Bongino of leaking information to conservative media outlets, a charge he denied. The dispute was so intense that one source described the meeting as ending "not on friendly terms," with Bongino leaving the White House visibly angry. According to a senior administration official, Bongino "lost his mind and ran out of D.C." after his efforts to quell the controversy failed.
Adding fuel to the fire, far-right influencer Laura Loomer publicly claimed on social media that Bongino and Patel were "LIVID" with Bondi’s approach and that Bongino was seriously considering resignation. Loomer accused Bondi of "concealing information," "lying on national TV," and damaging the Trump administration’s credibility. Yet, despite these accusations, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche pushed back against claims of internal discord, posting on X that all leadership, including Bongino and Patel, had signed off on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein files. Blanche called suggestions of a rift "patently false." Similarly, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields emphasized that President Trump’s law enforcement team was working "seamlessly and with unity," dismissing reports of division as baseless distractions.
The Epstein investigation has long been a source of controversy. Epstein, a convicted sex offender with ties to the global elite, was found dead in his jail cell in 2019, with his death ruled a suicide. However, conspiracy theories about his demise and the existence of a secret "client list" have persisted. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump hinted at releasing additional government files related to Epstein, fueling hopes among supporters that new revelations might emerge.
Attorney General Bondi had orchestrated a February 2025 event at the White House to present binders of Epstein-related documents to pro-Trump social media influencers. However, the event drew criticism when it became clear that most documents were already publicly available. Meanwhile, Bongino, appointed FBI Deputy Director by Trump in February 2025, had gained prominence as a conservative podcaster and former Secret Service agent. His transition from a vocal critic of the FBI to a senior law enforcement official has been marked by controversy, particularly over his handling of the Epstein files.
Adding to the tension, billionaire Elon Musk had recently claimed the government withheld Epstein records because Trump himself was implicated, a theory Trump dismissed but which stirred further public interest. The Justice Department’s memo released in early July 2025, which closed the case without finding evidence of a client list or foul play in Epstein’s death, only deepened the divide among Trump’s base and within the administration.
As the Epstein files saga unfolds, Bongino’s future remains uncertain. While he has not officially resigned, his absence from the FBI and public speculation suggest the dispute may have lasting consequences for the bureau’s leadership. For now, the administration insists on projecting unity, but the Epstein files continue to cast a long shadow over the Trump administration’s law enforcement efforts.