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Critics Flag Interesting Timing Of Dan Bongino's FBI Exit: 'Worried About The Fallout'

Trump's deputy FBI director reportedly had a different date in mind to share his exit announcement.

WestNet News wire Source: HuffPost
Critics Flag Interesting Timing Of Dan Bongino's FBI Exit: 'Worried About The Fallout'

Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, on Wednesday announced plans to leave his post in January, a move that prompted critics to speculate if the decision was fueled by the Trump administration’s deadline to drop the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Bongino took to X to confirm his plans after reports on his uncertain future at the agency intensified in recent days.

Before taking the FBI gig, Bongino made a podcasting career out of pushing conspiracy theories, including those tied to Epstein. Within months, Bongino indicated that he wasn’t too happy at the new job, telling Fox News in May that he “gave up everything for this.”

Bongino was reportedly on thin ice at the FBI in August after clashing with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files. In an unusual move, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey was tapped to serve as the FBI’s co-deputy director alongside Bongino.

The DOJ must release the Epstein files by Friday, the same day that Bongino “tentatively planned” to announce his exit from the FBI, according to MS NOW.

Critics on social media weighed in on the news, with one Bluesky user arguing that Bongino could be “worried about the fallout” from the Epstein files release.

Read that take, and others, below:

that was quick.also...Bongino spent much of his podcasting career talking about Epstein, and has reportedly been worried about the impact on his income of Trump's foot dragging re the files. He may also be worried about the fallout when the files are released.

— Noah Berlatsky (@nberlat.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T18:36:13.572Z

Dan Bongino had planned to announce his departure from the FBI on Friday 19 Dec. 2025. ... the same day interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS reaches its closest approach to Earth (coincidence) – and also the legal deadline for the DOJ's release of the Epstein files (not coincidence).

— Dr. Jack Brown (@drjackbrown.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T20:54:29.123Z

Dan Bongino went mighty silent once the central Epstein story became Trump Is Suppressing The Epstein Files.

— Shady Backflash (@popeshady.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T17:48:12.466Z

Resigning FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino allowed to choose one item from the Epstein files to take home as a parting gift.

— Missing The Point (@missingthept.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T20:56:55.979Z

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...Being unqualified, incompetent, and generally an absurd choice for a position is no barrier to working in this administration, but it does make it hard to actually do the job, and Bongino didn't like doing hard work. Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey

— Jacob T. Levy (@jacobtlevy.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T23:01:57.710Z

It's hysterical (in a macabre kinda way) that Bongino lasted exponentially longer in a Trump administration than Scaramucci.

— Josh Sternberg (@joshsternberg.com) 2025-12-17T22:58:26.273Z

Bongino served 27 Scaramuccis. That’s not a tenure, that’s a Costco pack.

— 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖 𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝 (@sundaedivine.lol) 2025-12-17T22:38:50.800Z

Bongino is leaving to spend more time with his loved ones—conspiracy theorists and QAnon nutters.

— David Corn (@davidcorn.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T21:27:51.465Z

Mr. Bongino said, "It turns out that eye-popping full-throated screaming about the libs is way easier and far more lucrative that whatever this job shit is all about."

— Rap Bastardz® (@rapbastardz.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T17:47:31.081Z

Bongino made his brand based on Trump and conspiracy theories, and now Trump and conspiracy theories are ruining that brand. Dan wants out before said brand becomes unsalvageable.

— Khashoggi's Ghost (@urocklive1.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T21:11:34.571Z