FBI deputy director Dan Bongino took a day off from work Friday leading many to believe that he has quit his job after clashing at the White House with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Epstein case that the Donald Trump administration has now officially closed. Axios reported that administration officials insisted that Bongino has not resigned, though internal tension between the FBI and the DOJ continues. The administration also reveleased a surveillance video from outside Epstein’s cell to support its claim that no one entered the room. Axios said the dispute started Wednesday after the administration claimed that the convicted sex offender did not have a client list and that he was not murdered in his New York City prison cell in 2019. The 10-hour video, however, has a missing minute which the administration blamed on technicalities. But MAGA world doubled down on that missing minute. The administration said the old surveillance system used to take a minute to reset and record fresh and hence every day, 60 seconds were not recorded. Dan Bongino was blamed internally for oversight after the “missing minute” was discovered as it put the administration in a tough spot to defend. And it came from Bongino himself who pushed conspiracy theories before becoming FBI’s deputy director and now he gave the go-ahead for the release of the video. “Two sources familiar with Bongino’s position say he was increasingly displeased with Bondi’s handling of the Epstein case because she had publicly overpromised and underdelivered disclosures about an Epstein “client list” that apparently never existed,” Axios reported.
Pam Bondi, Dan Bongino or Kash Patel? Who is to be blamed?
While a section of MAGA influencers want Pam Bondi to be punished for the botch-up, some insiders believe Trump loves Pam Bondi and thinks she’s great, thus saving her from any damage. Kash Patel’s personal life has been dragged to the controversy as his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins has been called a Mossad agent.
Clash between Bondi and Bongino
The clash between Bondi and Bongino was witnessed by Kash Patel, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich. During the meeting, Bongino was confronted about a NewsNation article that said he and Patel wanted more information released about Epstein earlier, but were held back. Bongino said he did not leak that idea. “Pam said her piece. Dan said his piece. It didn’t end on friendly terms,” Axios reported, adding that Bongino left the meeting angrily.
