Is the Trump administration about to lose a key law enforcement figure over the messy handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files?
According to the Daily Mail, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino finds himself in hot water, with rumors swirling in Washington that he might soon exit his role amid tensions over the Epstein case and broader dissatisfaction with the lack of new revelations.
Let’s rewind to early 2025, when Attorney General Pam Bondi handed over a binder dubbed “Epstein Files: Phase One” to conservative influencers at a White House event, only for it to be revealed as a dud with no fresh information.
The public, hungry for answers about the disgraced financier and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was left frustrated, expecting bombshell details or a list of high-profile names tied to his crimes.
By mid-2025, the Department of Justice doubled down, announcing their review found no so-called “client list,” no additional charges against others, and confirmed Epstein’s death in prison as a suicide—hardly the red meat many Trump supporters anticipated.
This fueled outrage among some far-right factions, especially since both Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel, known for their pro-MAGA stance, had previously hyped Epstein conspiracies before taking office.
Reports over the summer and fall of 2025 painted a picture of internal chaos, with sources claiming Bongino butted heads with Bondi over how to manage the Epstein files, even allegedly refusing to show up to work on time during the fallout.
The tension only grew after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk in September 2025, which seemed to deepen rifts within the administration. An insider whispered to the Daily Mail back then that Bongino was already “halfway out the door,” a sign that his combative style might not mesh with the team’s playbook.
Fast forward to December 2025, and the House Oversight Committee’s Democrats released 19 images tied to the Epstein case, featuring familiar faces like Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Woody Allen, Prince Andrew, and Bill Gates—though no wrongdoing is implied.
This move keeps the Epstein saga in the spotlight, reminding everyone that both parties are itching to dig deeper and tie prominent figures to the scandal, fair or not.
Meanwhile, whispers in Washington grow louder, with an FBI insider telling the Daily Mail, “Do I think Dan is going to stay? No,” hinting that Bongino might jump ship on his own terms after the mounting pressure.
The Daily Beast suggests President Trump could pin the Epstein debacle on Bongino, making him the fall guy for an issue that’s haunted the administration nearly a year into the term.
Adding fuel to the fire, the DOJ’s unprecedented decision to appoint a second deputy director, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, alongside Bongino, signals to many that his days might indeed be numbered.
While Trump has called the Epstein files a Democratic hoax meant to smear him and his allies, the public’s demand for transparency isn’t letting up—and neither are the rumors of other exits, like Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, though the president has voiced support for her.