CNN: Deputy FBI Dir. Dan Bongino Is Considering Resigning After Heated Confrontation with AG Bondi Over Epstein Files

WHITFIELD: “All right. Breaking news. Sources tell CNN that Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino has told people that he’s considering resigning amid a major clash between the FBI and DoJ over the continued fallout from the release, or lack thereof, of the Jeffrey Epstein memo. Joining us right now in files — joining us right now on the phone is CNN Anchor and Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins. Kaitlan, what more are you learning?”
Collins: “Yeah, Fred, it remains to be seen if he actually follows through with what he has told colleagues, but what we do know is that Dan Bongino has told people he is considering resigning as the deputy director of the FBI over the fallout that has continued ever since this memo was released last Sunday. The anger inside the MAGA base has only continued to grow instead of going away, as some officials inside hoped it would. And now our colleagues, along with Kristen Holmes, Hannah Rabinowitz, and Evan Perez, were hearing that he’s considering resigning after they had this heated confrontation with the Attorney General Pam Bondi, over the handling of this earlier this week. And basically there was a meeting at the White House where the FBI Director Kash Patel was there, the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. They were questioned about whether they were part of a story that there was basically some infighting over how this came out and this memo that said we’re not going to be releasing any more information related to Jeffrey Epstein. And I should note that we were told Bongino denied leaking any story to this outlet that it was reported on, but there has been a lot of fighting between Attorney General Pam Bondi specifically and the leadership over at the FBI over who’s to blame in this situation. I think the context here is obviously Dan Bongino, Kash Patel, they came from this MAGA world where they themselves had pushed a lot of questions about the so-called client list that Epstein had beforehand, and now the MAGA base is just not pleased or satisfied with what they’ve said in this memo that came out unsigned from the Justice Department and the FBI on Sunday night. So what we are told is Dan Bongino did not show up to work today, that he is essentially not there out of protest, but whether or not he actually follows through on this still remains to be seen. We’re still reporting that out. But it just speaks to the backlash that the White House is very much feeling and understanding after this memo came out, despite President Trump the other day in the Cabinet Room asking, you know, who still cares about this? One thing we know is the MAGA base certainly does.”