FBI Director Kash Patel pushed back Saturday against swirling rumors of internal dissent over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, dismissing claims he was considering resignation as “conspiracy theories.”
In a post on X, Patel wrote, “The conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been. It’s an honor to serve President Trump — and I’ll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.”
His statement came amid growing speculation that Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino were at odds with Attorney General Pam Bondi over transparency surrounding the Epstein files. Patel’s remarks followed reports of a tense White House meeting earlier in the week, where Bongino allegedly clashed with Bondi and threatened to resign.
Trump Supporters React, Burn MAGA Gear
As frustration spread across Trump’s base online, videos surfaced Saturday of supporters burning MAGA hats in protest, accusing Bondi of hiding critical Epstein documents.
President Trump responded on Truth Social, calling out the backlash:
“What’s going on with my ‘boys’ and ‘gals’? They’re going after Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB. We’re on one team — MAGA — and I don’t like what’s happening.”
Trump appeared to redirect attention from Epstein, blaming past administrations:
“They created the Epstein Files — just like they created the FAKE Steele Dossier. If there was anything damaging to MAGA, the Radical Left would’ve used it already.”
He urged supporters not to waste energy on Epstein, whom he referred to as “somebody nobody cares about.”
Epstein File Memo Sparks Outrage
The uproar began after the DOJ and FBI released a memo concluding there is no Epstein “client list”, and that the financier died by suicide in 2019. A one-minute surveillance video gap reignited suspicions among critics.
Fox News previously reported that Bongino confronted Bondi over a “lack of transparency” in the case. Sources say he raised his voice at Trump’s chief of staff before storming out of the meeting.
Despite rumors of discord, Bondi and Patel have since presented a united front. White House sources say they remain in “constant communication,” and Bondi has no plans to step down.
Patel’s Bio Change Fuels Speculation
Fueling the resignation rumors was a subtle change to Patel’s social media bio, which briefly read “Fmr Chief of Staff @DeptofDefense” — omitting any mention of his current role at the FBI. The move sparked speculation before Patel clarified his position Saturday.
White House Denies Division
White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields insisted the team remains unified:
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law-and-order team. This work is being carried out seamlessly. Any attempt to sow division is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made.”
The FBI declined to comment further.
