Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director in January. Dan Bongino says he will leave his role as deputy director of the FBI in January, less than a year after being appointed by President Donald Trump. In a post on X, Bongino thanked Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel for what he called the opportunity to "serve with purpose". Trump earlier said Bongino "did a great job" and wants to return to his media career. Bongino, a former New York City police officer and US Secret Service agent, built a large following as a conservative podcast host before joining the FBI. His appointment was controversial, as he had no prior experience inside the agency and faced opposition from the FBI Agents Association. As a public commentator, Bongino had promoted conspiracy theories around the 2020 election, the January 6 pipe bomb case, and Jeffrey Epstein's death. After joining the FBI, he later said Epstein did take his own life, aligning with official findings. FBI Director Kash Patel praised Bongino's tenure, saying he exceeded expectations and helped push progress on long-stalled investigations.