MAGA mutiny takes intriguing twist after FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino threatened to quit over Epstein files
Dan Bongino, a longtime leading proponent of theories about Jeffrey Epstein 's client list, failed to show up to work on Friday after Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump assured the public no such list exists.
At the time it was reported he had threatened to resign over the botched handling of the investigation, which has sparked mutiny within the MAGA ranks and turned some of Trump's most loyal soldiers against him.
But Bongino, a podcaster who was picked out of political obscurity to help lead the new-and-improved FBI, reportedly returned to work this week under a cloud of uncertainty about his future at the agency.
By Monday morning, officials were starting to squirm and feared that Bongino would be a no-show yet again, but he arrived in the office a few hours later than expected.
According to The Daily Beast, administration insiders claim Trump is quietly furious that one of his hand-picked appointees would so publicly go against him.
Trump rushed to Bondi's defense amid mounting criticism from the likes of Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Steve Bannon, asking: 'What's going on with my ''boys'' and, in some cases, ''gals?''
'They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening.
'We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein.'
Even after his defense of her, major MAGA backers are demanding Bondi lose her job over the saga.
There were initially whispers that Bongino and FBI boss Kash Patel were united in their willingness to walk away from their jobs if Bondi kept hers, but Patel has since squashed those rumors.
'The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been,' Patel said. 'It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.'
Bongino was reportedly particularly irked by Bondi's decision to oversell what she initially had during the early stages of the Epstein investigation.
In February, she invited MAGA influencers to the White House and gave them binders containing 'a truckload' of new details, but upon closer inspection it was discovered the folders contained no new information.
Then, she said the highly anticipated client list was 'sitting on my desk' awaiting review before it, too, would be released.
Now, she maintains a client list does not exist, and said in a memo that Epstein likely died by suicide, rather than the long-held conspiracy held by many within MAGA that he was murdered while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Sources claimed Bongino was confronted last week about information that was leaked to the media suggesting he and Patel wanted more information released to the public.
He maintained he was not the source of the leaks.
Trump told reporters on Sunday he had contacted Bongino and urged him not to resign.
'I spoke to him today,' he said. 'Dan Bongino, very good guy. I've known him a long time. I've done his show many, many times. He sounded terrific, actually.'
Asked on Sunday if Bongino remained in his position, Trump said: 'Oh I think so.'
As a popular pro-MAGA right-wing podcaster before joining the FBI, Bongino touted conspiracies that convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in jail to prevent the list of his high-profile clientele from reaching the light of day.
Far-right media personality Laura Loomer warned Republicans that the lack of revelations in the Epstein case will cost them elections in the future.
'People make their own choices and decisions, but mark my word, the lack of actual results at the DOJ and lack of transparency that translates into incompetence will cost the GOP House and Senate seats.'
But Bongino (pictured left with Trump), a podcaster who was picked out of political obscurity to help lead the new-and-improved FBI, reportedly returned to work this week under a cloud of uncertainty about his future at the agency
'Don't say I didn't warn you,' she added. Billionaire Elon Musk took a side when he unfollowed Bondi on X.
On his podcast, conservative luminary Tucker Carlson theorized that Bondi is orchestrating a cover-up in order to protect members of the intelligence community who were ensnared in Epstein's conduct.
'The current DOJ under Pam Bondi is covering up crimes, very serious crimes by their own description,' Carlson said. 'Intel services are at the very center of this story, U.S. and Israeli and they're being protected.'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed Trump's continued support for Bondi despite calls to resign.
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