FBI deputy director Dan Bongino took off work Friday following a clash with attorney general Pam Bondi over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Two sources told Axios that Bongino was increasingly unhappy of Bondi's handling of the matter because he felt she had overpromised and underdelivered information about the disgraced financier's alleged "client list," and three sources said the deputy director was blamed internally for the "missing minute" from surveillance video recorded outside Epstein's jail cell.
"The fact is, Dan was for releasing the information with the video and had no problem until he got heat online," a senior administration official told Axios. "Bongino found the video with the missing minute. He vouched for it after a 'thorough review,' he said, and he thought this would end the matter. When that didn't work, he lost his mind and ran out of D.C."
Bongino angered President Donald Trump's MAGA base by publicly stating in May that the surveillance video proved Epstein had not been murdered as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges, and he, Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel have each complained to others that they're being blamed unfairly for the Epstein furor and being hung out to dry.
"Dan is not the bad guy here," said a pro-Bongino source. "He shouldn't take the fall."
The situation came to a boil Wednesday at the White House, where Bongino was confronted about a NewsNation article that reported he and Patel wanted more details released about the Epstein case but were held back, and the deputy director denied leaking that information in a heated discussion in front of the FBI director, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich.
"Pam said her piece, Dan said his piece," said one person briefed on the confrontation. "It didn't end on friendly terms."
MAGA influencer Laura Loomer, who first reported that Bongino had taken off the day from work, said the deputy FBI director was "seriously" considering resignation over the matter.
"Bongino took the day off from work to evaluate whether or not he wants to continue his position with the @FBI following the Sunday night release of a memo from the DOJ that claims no more information about Jeffrey Epstein will be released," Loomer tweeted. "Source tells me it’s very likely that Bongino resigns from the FBI unless Pam Blondi (sic) is FIRED by President Trump or resigns from the DOJ."
