Top FBI official admits past MAGA claims were ‘paid opinions’ in stunning Fox moment

A new column by The Atlantic’s David Graham highlights a jaw-dropping moment from Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino’s recent Fox News interview, in which he effectively admitted that his past MAGA media claims — including the false allegation that the government planted the Jan. 6 pipe bombs — were paid-for opinions rather than fact-based assertions. Speaking to Sean Hannity, Bongino said he once “was paid… for my opinions,” but now must rely on evidence in his FBI role, a confession Graham calls “astonishing” and emblematic of right-wing media figures who openly acknowledge pushing baseless narratives. Graham warns that Bongino’s casual admission on Fox News raises serious questions about his credibility, especially if he returns to his former role as a pundit.

Watch the video below.