Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is seriously considering stepping down from his post amid escalating tensions inside the federal government over the fallout from a controversial memo on Jeffrey Epstein, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
The potential resignation follows a heated internal dispute this week between Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi, centered on the FBI’s role in the memo’s release and the Justice Department’s handling of the broader case.
According to sources, the conflict came to a head during a contentious White House meeting on Wednesday attended by Bongino, Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Bondi and others confronted Bongino and Patel over a news story claiming the FBI had pushed to release more Epstein-related documents but was blocked by the DOJ. While Bongino denied leaking the story to NewsNation, he notably refused to endorse a joint statement defending the DOJ’s handling of the review.
CNN has reached out to Bongino and the FBI for comment. Sources stressed that Bongino hasn’t made a final decision and could still remain in his role. Axios first reported elements of the White House confrontation.
The Epstein memo, released Monday, concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in Epstein’s 2019 jailhouse death and that no hidden “client list” existed—findings that have outraged many of former President Donald Trump’s core supporters, who had hoped the documents would expose high-profile individuals allegedly tied to Epstein.
Bongino, who did not report to work on Friday, has privately expressed frustration over the DOJ’s handling of the case. His absence sparked speculation among insiders that he had resigned, although sources confirmed he was still officially in his position as of Friday afternoon.
MAGA Allies Turn on Bondi
The dustup has placed Bondi in the crosshairs of Trump loyalists, including far-right provocateur Laura Loomer, who accused Bondi of misleading the public and claimed Bongino was “livid.” Loomer posted that Bongino had taken the day off and may not return.
Internally, FBI and DOJ officials have long clashed over the Epstein case, but tensions spilled into public view this week. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed reports of a rift on Friday, insisting there was “no daylight” between FBI and DOJ leadership on the memo’s content or timing.
White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields echoed that message, saying Trump’s law enforcement team was “working in unity.”
“Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made,” Fields said.
Still, pressure has mounted on Bondi, who organized a much-hyped White House event in February to unveil Epstein-related documents. The event, featuring pro-Trump influencers, backfired when it became clear many of the documents were already public. Patel had little involvement, but Bongino later attempted to reassure critics that new information would soon emerge—something that has yet to materialize.
Missing Minute in Epstein Jail Video Fuels Tensions
A major point of contention centers around a 10-hour surveillance video taken the night of Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail cell. According to a source, Bongino was initially elated to locate the footage and believed it confirmed Epstein was not murdered.
However, when the video was released, viewers noticed a one-minute jump, sparking a new wave of conspiracy theories. Bondi later explained the recording system resets nightly and skips the same minute every day. Nonetheless, Bongino was blamed internally for failing to anticipate the fallout.
Frustration had been building for months between Bongino, Patel, and DOJ leadership, stemming partly from an early interview in which Bondi inaccurately suggested the FBI was still handling the case, despite it already being under DOJ authority.
On Saturday, Patel addressed the controversy on social media:
“The conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been,” he wrote. “It’s an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I’ll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.”
Whether Bongino will make the same decision remains uncertain — but the crisis over the Epstein memo has clearly shaken the upper echelons of Trump’s national security team.
