FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was involved in a heated confrontation with high-ranking White House officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, during a closed-door meeting about the Department of Justice’s review of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case. Multiple sources reported that Bongino raised his voice during the discussion, leading to a storm-out, and his anger was attributed to the release of a DOJ memo that concluded no new information could be disclosed about Epstein’s case. The memo, which stated the FBI and DOJ found no evidence of a ‘client list,’ sparked significant backlash among Bongino’s supporters, particularly within the MAGA base, who questioned the transparency of the agencies. While White House officials downplayed the claims of raised voices, the incident has led Bongino to consider resigning from the FBI, according to sources. FBI Director Kash Patel, however, remains supportive of the memo’s release, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that there was no division within the DOJ or FBI during the process.
The memo, released after considerable public pressure, revealed that much of the nonpublic information regarding Epstein’s case is under court-ordered seals or contains sensitive material. Epstein, a financier with a history of associating with wealthy individuals, was indicted in 2019 over allegations of recruiting minors for sexual relationships. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of conspiracy to sexually abuse minors and is currently serving a 20-year sentence. The memo also noted the absence of a purported ‘client list’ of unindicted sexual predators, which many had speculated about for years. Despite the memo’s release, the fallout from the Epstein case continues, with critics arguing that the agencies failed to meet public expectations for transparency. The situation has led to internal tensions within the DOJ and FBI, with Bongino’s potential resignation highlighting the deepening divide over the handling of the case. While Patel remains in favor of the memo’s content, the incident marks a significant moment in the relationship between the FBI, DOJ, and the political right.