Trump Says FBI Deputy Bongino Staying After Clash Over Epstein Files

President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he spoke directly with Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino and was assured the senior law-enforcement official is “in good shape,” indicating Bongino plans to remain in his post despite reports he was prepared to quit. Speculation about Bongino’s future intensified after an unsigned Justice Department and FBI memo, released earlier this month, concluded that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and did not maintain a secret “client list.” Conservative commentators faulted Attorney General Pam Bondi for overselling the prospect of new disclosures, and multiple outlets reported that Bongino clashed with Bondi over the handling of the review and briefly stayed away from FBI headquarters. People familiar with the situation said Bongino returned to work on Monday and is urging Bondi to hold a press conference to address what he calls failures in the Epstein probe. Trump has publicly defended Bondi while insisting the bureau should pivot to other priorities such as voter-fraud investigations. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who joined the administration in March, has not commented on the resignation rumors.