WASHINGTON — As President Donald Trump&#8217;s White House game-planned how to message the Jeffrey Epstein files during the summer of 2025, Dan Bongino was growing increasingly frustrated and angry.
He understood the vast interest in Jeffrey Epstein online, and he had repeatedly sounded the alarm to Trump&#8217;s team that the outcry over the DOJ&#8217;s bungling of the Epstein files was gaining momentum, as Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman reported for their book “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.”
Back in July 2025, the president wasn&#8217;t yet interested in releasing the files. The DOJ had briefed him on the contents of what they had, noting that much of it included child sexual abuse material and that a lot of the raw records contained unverified and unsubstantiated information, including about the president and some of his friends. The White House viewed the conversation as toxic and unnecessary (the president would later call out Democrats&#8217; new fixation on the files as a &#8220;hoax&#8221;).
Trump&#8217;s advisors argued at the time that the president had weathered every possible media storm — and he could weather this Epstein one as well. Ultimately, the House and Senate would vote to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2025, and Trump would sign it into law the same month. The files would be released in massive dumps in December and January.
But during the summer of 2025, Bongino repeatedly told the White House that Team Trump wasn&#8217;t grasping how big of a deal the Epstein drama was, telling White House advisors, according to The New York Times: “It’s not an online story. You don’t understand.”
Things came to a head when the DOJ and FBI put out a memo saying that they had concluded that there was no evidence Epstein had a client list. It also said that Epstein&#8217;s death was a suicide, that the Trump administration wouldn&#8217;t be releasing any more information about the Epstein case, and that no further investigation was warranted.
At the same time, they also released 11 hours of video footage from the Manhattan jail where Epstein was found dead. That surveillance video actually made matters worse, since it was missing a pivotal minute, from 11:58:58 to midnight on the night that Epstein died. That missing minute was later released, but it had only fueled angry speculation about a coverup.
Bongino was enraged by the memo and by the handling of the entire situation. He had argued to Patel that it would not at all align with their transparency promises, the NYT reports, and he pushed hard for the FBI seal to be left off the letter. While Patel reportedly agreed with Bongino on many points, he ultimately went along with what the DOJ and White House wanted.
In what Haberman and Swan described as a &#8220;volcanic mood,&#8221; Bongino shouted at Bondi in a Justice Department meeting with FBI staff.
“You f*cked this thing up from the start,” Bongino allegedly yelled at the former attorney general. “The way you’ve been talking about this — that dumb f*cking charade with the Epstein files, the ‘They’re on my desk’ nonsense, all the promises to the folks out there.”
<div id="attachment_1113617" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-dan-bongino-stormed-out-of-the-situation-room-over-the-epstein-files/pipe-bomb-suspect-charged-over-devices-found-before-jan-6-riot" rel="attachment wp-att-1113617"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1113617" class="wp-image-1113617 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2249306758-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2249306758-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2249306758-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2249306758-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/06/GettyImages-2249306758.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Photographer: Alex Kent/Bloomberg via Getty Images</div>
Bongino and Patel were reportedly called into a Situation Room meeting with Susie Wiles, Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche, and Taylor Budowich two days later. Wiles immediately asked Bongino if he had leaked a story about Epstein and Trump to ABC News, the New York Times reports.
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“I’ll tell you what,” Bongino reportedly replied. “I’ll give you $100,000 cash right now. I’m not kidding. Walk out to West Exec, put that reporter on speaker and get him to admit I leaked it. A hundred thousand dollars.”
When Wiles started to tell Bongino that &#8220;we all got ourselves into this,&#8221; he allegedly cut her off, saying, “No, no, no, no, no. We didn’t get ourselves into anything. I warned you guys about this the whole time, and you ignored me. And exactly what I said was going to happen happened. And now you’re pretending I was in on this. I was never in on this.”
His response startled the rest of the group, particularly given that Wiles was the White House chief of staff. Wiles reportedly pressed forward, telling Bongino, “Going forward, we’re all in. We’re all going to agree to move forward. Are you in or not?”
He reportedly responded: “No, I’m not. This is not my plan. I’m not part of this going forward. Forget it. I’m out of here.”
And, in an even more shocking move, Bongino &#8220;stormed out of the Situation Room and onto West Executive Avenue, where he climbed into the back of Patel’s armored SUV and directed the driver to take him to FBI headquarters.&#8221;
MAGA world lit up with rumors that Bongino would resign. Sources close to Bongino at the time <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bondi-or-bongino-bongino-wont-remain-at-fbi-if-bondi-keeps-job-source-says">told Daily Wire</a> that he was threatening to leave the bureau if Bondi remained on the job, effectively issuing an ultimatum.
Patel also wanted Bondi gone, sources close to the FBI chief told The Daily Wire, saying that Patel would consider leaving the FBI if Bongino left.
“Blondie f*cked this whole thing up,” Bongino told a confidant, The New York Times reported. He was using a nickname for the attorney general coined by outspoken Bondi critic Laura Loomer. “She was the one on TV saying over and over they had all this stuff. There was never anything.&#8221;
&#8220;We were always clear about that,&#8221; Bongino emphasized, according to the Times. &#8220;But now everyone thinks we did something wrong. And I gave up everything.”
He stayed on until January 2026, when he resigned from the bureau and returned to hosting his &#8220;Dan Bongino Show.&#8221;
&#8220;Dan did a great job,&#8221; Trump told reporters, as news of Bongino&#8217;s departure broke. &#8220;I think he wants to go back to his show.&#8221;
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Former Attorney General Pam Bondi had made things difficult for Patel and Bongino when she promised in a February 2025 Fox News interview that the Epstein list was &#8220;sitting&#8221; on her &#8220;desk right now to review.&#8221;
Her possibly greater misstep occurred during a White House briefing with influencers on the president&#8217;s agenda, according to the NYT. During that briefing, Bondi and her team walked into the Roosevelt Room carrying boxes and handed out binders to the influencers that she described as &#8220;The Epstein files.&#8221;
Swan and Haberman write that &#8220;the blood pressure of other officials in the room skyrocketed&#8221; — they did not know what was in the binders, and the binders hadn&#8217;t been vetted by the White House.
The president was about to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer before the press, and the news might possibly blindside him.
&#8220;One official, opening the binder, began flipping through pages to see if Trump’s name was mentioned anywhere,&#8221; they wrote. &#8220;A few pages in, right in the middle of the page, there it was.&#8221;
The binders didn&#8217;t actually contain anything meaningfully new, but after the influencers took photos in front of the White House holding them, word spread like wildfire on social media. Not only did the influencers feel duped by the lack of substance in the binders, but many of Trump&#8217;s supporters were seething on social media over what they saw as Bondi playing showman with the files without releasing anything meaningful.
The Epstein files, which will have all been released as of July 2026, include many mentions of Trump&#8217;s name but have not been found to include substantiated allegations against the president.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Photo obtained by <a href="https://x.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> shows Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein together. To my knowledge, this photo hasn’t been reported.
Massive trove of Epstein files are expected to be released tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/OvFFbUQlXq">pic.twitter.com/OvFFbUQlXq</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2001876204299960657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
The DOJ noted that the batch released in January contained numerous “sensationalist” claims submitted right before the 2020 election, in an apparent attempt to stop Trump from winning the presidential election. Many of those claims don&#8217;t even include callback numbers, such as one graphic claim that the president raped a 13-year-old girl.
“Just as President Trump has said, he’s been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein,&#8221; White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Daily Wire on Wednesday.
&#8220;And by releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and calling for more investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, President Trump has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him,&#8221; she added.

New York Marks 24th Anniversary Of September 11 Terror Attacks

Why Dan Bongino Stormed Out Of The Situation Room Over The Epstein Files

Dan Bongino

Epstein Files

Jeffrey Epstein

kash patel

Pam Bondi

White House

Former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino will return to the airwaves on February 2 with a new show streaming on Rumble.
Bongino announced his return to podcasting on Monday after exiting the FBI at the start of the year. &#8220;The Dan Bongino Show,&#8221; when it returns, will be live-streamed exclusively on Rumble from 10 a.m. to noon ET.
The show will bring “Bongino’s unique insider perspective back to his loyal audience following a year of government service,” according to a press release. After the livestream, the show will be released on all major podcast platforms.
“The new version of The Dan Bongino Show will expand on its legacy with a renewed focus on Washington insights, behind-the-scenes details from his time in government, and a message of hope and resilience in the conservative movement,” the release says.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank you all for allowing me to serve you. 
We’re back on air February 2nd at 10a ET, live on <a href="https://t.co/G2Wjvsa9dR">https://t.co/G2Wjvsa9dR</a>. 
There’s a lot to talk about. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/6C4IEnXYMY">pic.twitter.com/6C4IEnXYMY</a>
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) <a href="https://twitter.com/dbongino/status/2010716361077494269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote>
Bongino was a popular conservative podcaster before he returned to public service as the deputy director of President Donald Trump’s FBI. After joining the administration early last year, Bongino took part in major Justice Department cases, including the release of files related to the late, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Bongino also played a leading role in the investigation into the person who left pipe bombs outside of the Democratic and Republican national headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021. Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-fbi-raids-home-of-suspected-january-6-pipe-bomber">noted</a> in a press conference last month that arresting the suspected bomber was “the best birthday present” Bongino could have asked for.
Bongino also reportedly clashed with Bondi throughout his tenure at the bureau over the handling of the Epstein files. Bondi teased potential bombshells to be revealed in additional documents made public, but the bombshells never materialized.
Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel, before release of the files, warned that the documents did not contain smoking guns such as a list of all of Epstein’s acquaintances suspected of sexually abusing underage girls.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dan-bongino-wants-to-go-back-to-his-show">criticized</a> Bondi’s handling of the Epstein release last year. Wiles complimented Bongino and Patel, however.
“The people that really appreciated what a big deal this is are Kash [Patel] and [FBI deputy director] Dan Bongino,” she said, referring to the release of the Epstein files. She noted that the pair had been among the loudest calling for transparency in the case.

Dan Bongino Announces His Return To Air After Exit From Trump’s FBI

Media

Trump Administration

U.S.

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino officially stepped down from his government post on Saturday, and he&#8217;s fed up — not with President Donald Trump or the administration, but with the &#8220;black-piller, chicken-little grifters&#8221; who are harming the conservative movement.
In a post that quickly went viral on Monday, Bongino said he was &#8220;sure as hell&#8221; not going to allow the conservative movement to be &#8220;hijacked by a group of black-pillers, life-losers, grifters and bums.&#8221;
On Tuesday, he was back at it, ripping grifters on the Right and the &#8220;tactics&#8221; they use to &#8220;bullsh*t&#8221; conservatives.
&#8220;The support for the Trump administration in the working world is strong. And people are tired of the endless bullsh*t from the black-piller, chicken-little grifters. Watch their tactics, and once you see them, you’ll never unsee them. They use a couple of different tactics to bullsh*t you,&#8221; Bongino <a href="https://x.com/dbongino/status/2008568396074328076?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">wrote</a> on X.
He then called out grifters on the Right who pretend to conduct explosive investigative work but are really just &#8220;charlatans and morons.&#8221;
&#8220;First, they overload you with information but they underwhelm you with evidence. Here’s an example of what I mean &#8211; they’ll try to convince you that John Smith robbed a bank, so they’ll data download on you and lose you in the chaos,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They’ll tell you things that might be true, but aren’t evidence of anything. They’ll tell you John was in the bank that day. That John knew someone who worked there. That John was arrested ten years ago for a misdemeanor. But they won’t tell you that the fingerprints, video and DNA of the thief matches someone else. Solid investigators sift through chaotic information and mine the evidence gems. Charlatans and morons do the opposite.&#8221;
Bongino also called out &#8220;black-pillers,&#8221; a term that refers to people who hold nihilistic and fatalistic views, who try to attack Trump&#8217;s agenda without attacking him directly. Often, these &#8220;black-pillers&#8221; attempt to convince their audience that a Trump policy will have devastating consequences without specifically calling out Trump, Bongino said.
&#8220;You’re seeing it now with regard to Venezuela,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Will it work out? Maybe. We will all see. But maybe give it a minute before you attack from inside the tent while pretending you’re an ally.&#8221;
&#8220;I want to be clear on this point, intra-party/movement policy disagreements are healthy and natural,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;But endless pessimism meant to strategically attack a movement from the inside, is not about policy, it’s political cannibalism. And many of these grifters are hiding their real agendas from you.&#8221;
In his post on Monday, Bongino urged conservatives to avoid getting sucked into ideas that undercut the movement&#8217;s principles. “We are a movement guided by truth. The essence of conservative ideology is the preservation of eternal truths,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We are not the ‘latest thing’ group. We are not political cannibals.&#8221;
Bongino did not call anyone out by name, but this issue has been brewing for months within the conservative movement and came to the forefront during Turning Point USA&#8217;s AmericaFest last month. In his opening night speech at AmericaFest, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-at-tpusa-the-right-needs-truth-not-grifters-and-frauds">called out</a> “grifters” on the Right — specifically, Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens — for spouting views that are antithetical to conservative ideals.
It&#8217;s unclear who exactly Bongino believes is a &#8220;grifter&#8221; and a &#8220;black-piller&#8221; in the conservative movement, but with the return of his show, which he promised to announce soon, his listeners will likely find out.
&#8220;Black-pillers and grifters asked for this fight, not us. But I’m absolutely down to fight it. ABSOLUTELY down,&#8221; he said.
Bongino also got into a back-and-forth with former Rep. Matt Gaetz on Tuesday. Gaetz stepped down from Congress in 2024 after he was tapped to become the attorney general in the new Trump administration. However, he eventually withdrew his name from consideration amid an Ethics Committee investigation into his alleged sexual relationship with a 17 year old and his alleged illegal drug use.
After Gaetz responded to one of Bongino&#8217;s recent posts and asked Grok how Bongino performed in his past runs for Senate and House, Bongino fired back, &#8220;Maybe if I spent more time at shady parties with monied insiders I would’ve won. I heard you’d know a bit about that,&#8221; Bongino said. &#8220;You’ve always been a dick by the way. Grifting off your daddy like a suckling little doggie. When I first met you in the panhandle I knew you were a piece of sh*t. It’s written all over that phony face of yours.&#8221;
Gaetz replied, &#8220;I’m glad you remember meeting me so many years ago. I recall you gave a moving speech about your time in law enforcement. I told you I liked it. I’m deeply proud of my father. We make a great team. Are you saying having a successful father is a bad thing? Did you share that viewpoint with President Trump? Or Don Jr? I share your distain for monied insiders. It’s why I was the ONLY Republican in congress who refused lobbyist and PAC donations.&#8221;
&#8220;You made a post about being a candidate for office during the tea party movement, and twice thereafter,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I didn’t know that full history so I simply asked @grok if you had won any of those elections. Apparently, you underperformed as a political candidate. But you’re a world class streamer. Cool. Take a chill pill, Dan.&#8221;
&#8220;That’s right doggie, backpedal away. Good move,&#8221; Bongino fired back. &#8220;Now go blame the Jews for your dumbass tweet.&#8221;
This article has been updated to clarify that Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress after being tapped to serve as attorney general.

Dan Bongino Has Been Out Of The Government For 3 Days, And He’s Louder Than Ever

Dan Bongino Has Been Out Of The Government For 3 Days, And He's Louder Than Ever

Conservatives

Donald Trump

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino teased big announcements on Monday as he prepares to return to the airwaves following his short stint inside the Trump administration.
Bongino <a href="https://x.com/dbongino/status/2008286877355212879">said</a> he wants to push the conservative movement back to foundational principles and call out voices on the Right that he believes are threatening conservatism heading into the important 2026 midterm elections. Despite leaving the FBI last month, Bongino has remained a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump and his agenda.
&#8220;I started in this movement as a candidate during the Tea Party movement, and I began my political commentary career shortly thereafter. I helped build this movement and I sure as hell am not going to let it get hijacked by a group of black-pillers, life-losers, grifters and bums,&#8221; Bongino said.
&#8220;We are a movement guided by truth. The essence of conservative ideology is the preservation of eternal truths. We are not the &#8216;latest thing&#8217; group. We are not political cannibals,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I’ve watched quietly from the inside while doing the job I was hired to do, but I’m back now, and it’s time to restore balance to the force.&#8221;
Bongino&#8217;s return to podcasting and his vow to take on &#8220;grifters and bums&#8221; comes at a defining moment for the conservative movement. Last month, during Turning Point USA&#8217;s AmericaFest, one of the largest events of the year for conservatives, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-at-tpusa-the-right-needs-truth-not-grifters-and-frauds">called out</a> &#8220;grifters&#8221; on the Right — specifically, Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens — for spouting views that are antithetical to conservative ideals.
In an earlier post on Monday, Bongino <a href="https://x.com/dbongino/status/2008250081753927703">promised</a> to reveal the exact date he would return to his show &#8220;soon&#8221; after he spends some time with his family. Bongino <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-dan-bongino-wants-to-go-back-to-his-show?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dan+Bongino+Leaving+FBI%3A+%E2%80%98God+Bless+America%2C+And+All+Those+Who+Defend+Her%E2%80%99">announced</a> on December 17 that he would be leaving the bureau and thanked President Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Attorney General Pam Bondi for the opportunity to serve as deputy director. Bongino&#8217;s final day was on Saturday, and he appeared to leave on good terms with Trump and Patel.
&#8220;This FBI is saving lives, protecting innocent kids, and taking deadly drugs off our streets at levels not seen in decades. None of it would’ve been possible without Dan’s leadership and support. And he paved the way for even better things to come,&#8221; Patel said on Sunday.
Bongino addressed some of the &#8220;infighting&#8221; on the Right in his post on Monday. Some of the divisions in the conservative movement under the second Trump administration stemmed from the administration&#8217;s handling of the Epstein case, with the FBI playing a major role in the investigation. Bongino, along with Patel and Bondi, were criticized over their work investigating the Epstein files after they concluded that there was no Epstein client list.
Bongino did not mention the Epstein saga in his post on Monday, but said that conservatives need to focus on the upcoming midterm elections and blasted those on the Right who spend their time &#8220;b*tching and whining.&#8221;
&#8220;We’ve got midterms coming up, and there’s no time for bullsh*t. This administration is cooking and REAL change simmers. If you’re spending your entire day b*tching and whining with 3/4ths of the term still to go, then please find the exits,&#8221; he said. &#8220;There’s no time for it. It’s not &#8216;infighting&#8217; when you excise a cancer killing the host. It’s &#8216;outfighting&#8217; because you’re not part of any movement I’m familiar with.&#8221;

Bongino Prepares To Take On ‘Grifters And Bums’ In Return To Conservative Commentary

Turning Point USA

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino plans to leave the bureau next month.
Bongino posted his farewell announcement on X on Wednesday. Bongino’s message came soon after President Donald Trump <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2001398261685309668">hinted</a> at Bongino’s departure in comments made on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews, saying of Bongino, “I think he wants to go back to his show.”
“I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, AG Bondi, and Director Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” <a href="https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/2001416238027935836">said</a> Bongino.
Trump appointed Bongino to the bureau in February. Bongino, before his career in conservative media, served in the New York Police Department and Secret Service. In the media, he was an adept watchdog over the Department of Justice and FBI, especially on scandals such as Operation Crossfire Hurricane and the Jeffrey Epstein saga.
Bongino recently wrapped one of his priorities for the FBI since coming into the deputy director role: identifying the suspected pipe bomber who planted bombs outside the Republican and Democratic headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 5, 2021. Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-fbi-raids-home-of-suspected-january-6-pipe-bomber">noted</a> in a press conference that arresting the suspected bomber was “the best birthday present” Bongino could have asked for.
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The Department of Justice under Bondi has been roiled by controversies over the past year, including its handling of the so-called Epstein files and prosecutions targeting some of Trump&#8217;s chief antagonists.
White House chief-of-staff Susie Wiles was critical of Bondi in comments published recently in <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-susie-wiles-interview-exclusive-part-2">Vanity Fair</a>. Wiles said Bondi mishandled the investigation into Epstein when she released old information to a group of right-wing reporters and internet influencers.
“I think she completely whiffed on appreciating that that was the very targeted group that cared about this,” Wiles said of the attorney general. “First she gave them binders full of nothingness. And then she said that the witness list, or the client list, was on her desk. There is no client list, and it sure as hell wasn’t on her desk.”
Wiles was more complimentary of the FBI leadership.
“The people that really appreciated what a big deal this is are Kash [Patel] and [FBI deputy director] Dan Bongino,” she said. She noted that, before they were inside the department, Patel and Bongino had been two of the loudest voices calling for transparency on Epstein, suspecting that information on his connections to some elites had been buried in non-public government records.
After joining the FBI, Patel and Bongino investigated their hunch about the Epstein files. They later came to the conclusion that the so-called secret files did not exist, and said as much publicly.
The handling of the Epstein probe sparked tensions within the Justice Department. Bongino <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/11/epstein-files-dan-bongino-pam-bondi-trump">reportedly</a> took issue with Bondi’s handling of the situation in particular. At the time, the deputy head of the FBI was rumored to be on the way out over frustrations with the attorney general.

Dan Bongino Leaving FBI: ‘God Bless America, And All Those Who Defend Her’

Department of Justice

Executive

Politics

The FBI says it conducted more than a thousand interviews and is &#8220;very confident&#8221; in its assessment that Thomas Crooks acted alone in his attempt to kill President Donald Trump at a rally in 2024, pushing back on online theories that have gained momentum in recent weeks.
&#8220;It is the FBI’s conclusion that Crooks acted alone,&#8221; FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-fbi-concludes-trump-shooter-thomas-crooks-acted-alone-after-unprecedented-global-investigation">told</a> Fox News, which received a briefing on the evidence that was reviewed by authorities.
Bongino, FBI Director Kash Patel, and the senior official said in an interview with Fox News that online conspiracies about Crooks are simply not true. For example, the FBI did gain access to every electronic device from Crooks, examining &#8220;35 accounts linked to Crooks, including social media, bank, and other online accounts.&#8221;
&#8220;The FBI has been able to access all of the accounts,&#8221; the senior official said. &#8220;There has been reporting to inappropriately and incorrectly state that there was encryption that the FBI was not able to get into — that is not true. We have been able to get into every single account.&#8221;
Crooks did have foreign-based email accounts from Germany and Belgium, which were also &#8220;fully&#8221; accessed &#8220;within days of the attack,&#8221; the official said.
&#8220;There is no foreign connection in this case,&#8221; a senior FBI official echoed. &#8220;There is no individual that is outside U.S. borders or inside U.S. borders that had any role in directing him, inspiring him or assisting him in any way — and that includes foreign governments.&#8221;
&#8220;Additionally, the FBI engaged with foreign partners who also provided all of the content of those email accounts,&#8221; the official continued. &#8220;We can say with confidence that there is no communication, there are no emails that Crooks had that we have not been able to access.&#8221;
Patel also noted that Crooks&#8217; home was &#8220;completely swept.&#8221;
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&#8220;Every device in the home was collected and accessed fully,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Reports say that we didn’t get into certain devices? That’s false. We got into all of the devices.&#8221;
The FBI officials also addressed recent theories and questions related to an Antifa-linked individual named William Tepes. Crooks and Tepes never spoke to one another directly, though Tepes did respond to Crooks&#8217; online public posting, the feds said.
&#8220;Crooks posted on YouTube. Tepes is a Norwegian, nordic resistance member. He simply responded to content Crooks posted,&#8221; Patel said.
The global investigation included more than 1,000 interviews, a review of 2,000 tips, and the execution of more than ten search warrants and 100 subpoenas. The feds &#8220;specifically analyzed 13 electronic devices that were associated with Crooks and his family members from his home in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania,&#8221; the official said.
Bongino noted there was no manifesto left from Crooks.
&#8220;Dan and I have been on this since we got here eight months ago,&#8221; Patel said of the investigation. &#8220;We fully briefed the president, as a victim of this case, at the White House, providing him with all of the details of our investigation, and the president was satisfied with the results and where we left it.&#8221;
&#8220;We are very confident in the outcomes of this investigation,&#8221; Bongino said. &#8220;We have pulled on every threat. We are absolutely confident, and if information surfaces, please, immediately get it over to us for instant action.&#8221;
The deputy director, who is personally close with Trump, stressed that there is no motivation for a coverup, as some online have suggested.
&#8220;I would ask the public: What motivation would Kash Patel and Dan Bongino possibly have to hide from their personal friend — not just their boss, the president — information about a crime where he was the victim?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;I don’t understand what the motivation would be.&#8221;
&#8220;No one is interested in guilt or innocence, they’re interested in someone to blame,&#8221; Bongino said, quoting &#8220;A Few Good Men.&#8221; &#8220;The public is pissed off. We get it. We sympathize with you. It couldn’t have just been this guy — it couldn’t have just been this guy — it is. There is no reason I would tell you otherwise.&#8221;
Patel added that pushing conspiracy theories online makes big money.
&#8220;As to why people keep coming back to this on social media, the reality is, many people make a lot of money on social media pushing conspiracy theories for clicks,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That is a fact.&#8221;
Responding to accusations from Congress about the FBI not disclosing all pertinent information, Patel said this was also not true, adding that lawmakers have been &#8220;fully debriefed.&#8221;
&#8220;Congress is accusing us of not turning over all of this stuff — but all of this stuff doesn’t exist. It is an empty narrative they’re firing into a vacuum,&#8221; Patel said. &#8220;The very limited information we have not turned over is respective to victims&#8217; rights. There isn’t some trove of documents that we haven’t sent over there.&#8221;

Justice Department Announces Federal Enforcement Action Against International Criminal Organization

FBI Works To Shut Down Online Theories About Thomas Crooks: ‘We Are Very Confident’

FBI Drops Major News About Would-Be Trump Assassin Thomas Crooks

assassination attempt

Crime

Thomas Matthew Crooks

Federal law enforcement arrested three more Islamic terror suspects linked to an ISIS-inspired plot to attack bars and nightclubs in Detroit on Halloween, the FBI announced Wednesday. 
Last week, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-terror-suspects-plotted-to-target-bars-nightclubs-during-halloween-celebrations-fbi-says?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=7&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Michigan+Terror+Suspects+Plotted+To+Target+Bars%2C+Nightclubs+During+Halloween+Celebrations%2C+FBI+Says">the FBI said agents arrested</a> four suspects accused of plotting an attack they hoped would mimic the 2015 Paris terrorist massacre that left 130 people dead. On Wednesday, three more men, two in New Jersey and one in Michigan, were hit with charges. 
The two New Jersey suspects are Milo Sedarat and Tomas Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, both from Montclair. Jimenez-Guzel was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport on his way to travel to Syria to join ISIS fighters, a law enforcement official <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/more-arrests-are-made-in-alleged-isis-pumpkin-terrorist-plot-6fe5e4d6?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfzLC43UvlROLGVKWI6hHud_-UTTKntEYZCGUkC4NKLla1JGlpKm7CYL98meVM%3D&amp;gaa_ts=690c9a87&amp;gaa_sig=bA3S8rI0TsYbEpPSJ1ELJNSb3VfMnBcubWzfYfqmdj-FNYgBKa2Zxz18AlpN8A4p0KXmFfQGEG9mz0xQp04Shg%3D%3D">told</a> The Wall Street Journal. 
Jimenez-Guzel has been charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization. Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba <a href="https://x.com/USAttyHabba/status/1986190944903803305">said</a> that law enforcement obtained a photo of Jimenez-Guzel posing in front of an ISIS flag with a knife. 
A law enforcement official told the Journal that Jimenez-Guzel was aware of the plans for the Halloween attack in Detroit and had previously visited the suspects planning that attack. Those suspects were named as Mohmed Ali and Majed Mahmoud. Two juveniles have also been charged but have not been named. 
Sedarat has been charged with transmitting threats to interstate and foreign commerce. 
The complaint against him “describes a pattern of antisemitic messages advocating violence, along with images and purchases consistent with preparation for attack, including a knife and sword collection, tactical gear, and images of him practicing at a gun range,” Habba said. 
Habba added that both men had “pledged themselves to ISIS, and were plotting acts of terrorism in our country,” according to the criminal complaint. 
“Protecting the District of New Jersey and the United States, its people, its neighborhoods and its institutions is the core mission of our office. With our partners at the FBI and main Justice, we will continue to move swiftly and decisively whenever terrorism or hate threatens our communities,” she said. 
After the announcement of the New Jersey arrests, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said that another suspect had been arrested on Wednesday. 
“Today [FBI Detroit] and partners arrested a third additional suspect in connection to the alleged foiled terrorist attack in Michigan last week. Our investigation suggests this individual had been providing material support in preparation for the attack, inspired by ISIS,” he wrote on X. “They are now in custody. More to come. Thank you to the men and women who continue to work this case diligently.”
That suspect was identified as 19-year-old Ayob Nasser of Dearborn, Michigan. Nasser has been charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and having firearms that would be used to commit an act of terrorism on behalf of ISIS. 
According to law enforcement, the suspects were all in a Signal chat together where they discussed ways to support ISIS.
“We will not stop. We will follow the tentacles where they lead. We will continue to stand guard with the FBI against terrorism,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon, Jr.

MixCollage-06-Nov-2025-07-28-AM-45

FBI Nabs Three More Men Tied To ISIS-Inspired Halloween Terror Plot

ISIS

Radical Islamic Terror

terrorist attack

At least four victims have died, and multiple people are injured after a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, according to police.
The shooter &#8220;drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church&#8221; before opening fire, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/church-shooting-fire-michigan-09-28-25">according</a> to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. The suspect was later killed in a firefight with police, bringing the <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1972453438677193099">total</a> dead to at least five.
The current status of the injured victims is unknown. The church fire was likely started by the shooter, according to Police Chief Renye.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Horrifying footage shows Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on fire after a gunman opened fire, shot multiple victims, and set the building on fire
Pray. <a href="https://t.co/IyU4cp1a9v">pic.twitter.com/IyU4cp1a9v</a> <a href="https://t.co/WxvcvoUv68">https://t.co/WxvcvoUv68</a>
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1972334175979229378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
President Donald Trump released a statement on the shooting and fire, saying that he has &#8220;been briefed,&#8221; and to &#8220;pray for the victims and their families.&#8221;
Police have identified the shooter as a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan. The shooter was a U.S. Marines veteran who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, according to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/iraq-war-veteran-thomas-sanford-idd-as-gunman-who-attacked-grand-blanc-lds-church-killing-2-and-setting-it-ablaze/">New York Post</a>.
In the attack, the shooter ran his truck, a Chevrolet Silverado, into the church before opening fire on congregants with a semiautomatic rifle. He also set fire to the church. The blaze soon enveloped most of the building.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a <a href="https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1972332977641451994">post</a> on X that FBI agents are responding to the shooting “to provide any requested support necessary.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1972332612929634470">posted</a> that she is receiving briefings “about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.” She also noted that federal agents with the FBI and ATF are responding.
“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy,” said Bondi.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer <a href="https://x.com/govwhitmer/status/1972333355380384170?s=46&amp;t=N2CGTmIA8Rg3XdjDvmfCjw">responded</a> to news of the shooting on X: “My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc close.”
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.

Michigan LDS Church

At Least 4 Dead, Multiple Injured, And Church Burned After Mass Shooting In Michigan

Mass Shooting

Michigan

The Justice Department announced Monday that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will step into the Trump administration as co-deputy director of the FBI, a move that reshapes bureau leadership amid reported internal disputes.
Bailey, who stepped down from his role as attorney general effective September 8, will hold his newly-created position alongside current FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino and serve under FBI Director Kash Patel.
“I am thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI. He has served as a distinguished attorney general for Missouri and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service,” Attorney General Pam Bondi <a href="https://ago.mo.gov/missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey-announces-resignation-in-order-to-accept-federal-position/">said</a>. “His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump’s mission. While we know this is undoubtedly a great loss for Missouri, it is a tremendous gain for America.”
Bongino, who has reportedly clashed with Bondi over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, welcomed Bailey to the FBI in a social media post. After the reported tension, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hes-in-good-shape-trump-speaks-with-bongino-after-flare-up-with-bondi?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘He’s+In+Good+Shape’%3A+Trump+Speaks+With+Bongino+After+Flare-Up+With+Bondi">said</a> that Bongino was in “good shape” and that he had complete faith in Bondi.
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Welcome. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/nui5E7nWAt">https://t.co/nui5E7nWAt</a>
— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1957572352889283039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bailey, who has served as Missouri&#8217;s attorney general since 2023, reflected on his role in a post on X.
“To Missouri, thank you. My tenure as Attorney General has been the honor of my professional career, but what has made it truly meaningful has been the opportunity to serve my home state,” Bailey <a href="https://x.com/AGAndrewBailey/status/1957574008381272245">wrote</a>. “Together, we have defended the rule of law and safeguarded our freedoms. I am forever grateful.”
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Bailey will not need to be confirmed by the Senate to take the role. Missouri Republican Governor Mike Kehoe will appoint Bailey&#8217;s replacement in the coming weeks. 
During his time as Missouri&#8217;s attorney general, Bailey challenged the Biden administration and filed a variety of culture war suits. For example, he sued multiple companies like International Business Machines (<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/missouri-attorney-general-sues-tech-giant-ibm-alleging-discrimination-against-whites-asians-men">IBM</a>) and <a href="https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-files-suit-against-starbucks-for-race-and-sex-based-discrimination/">Starbucks</a> over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. He also launched an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/missouri-attorney-general-launches-investigation-into-trans-center-for-harming-hundreds-of-children">investigation</a> into the Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and <a href="https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-demands-millions-in-suit-against-national-planned-parenthood-for-deceiving-women-about-the-dangers-of-the-abortion-drug/">sued</a> Planned Parenthood over its promotion of the abortion drug mifepristone. Bailey also sued to stop the student loan cancellation plan pushed by the Biden administration and sued the Department of Homeland Security for data on whether illegal immigrants were being relocated to Missouri.

CPAC-DC-2024

Red State Attorney General Named FBI Co-Deputy Director Alongside Dan Bongino

General

Missouri

President Donald Trump finalizes a historic trade deal with the European Union and brokers a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. The Department of Justice questions Ghislaine Maxwell for the first time, as FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino issues a cryptic warning about government weaponization. And Trump slams California Governor Gavin Newsom after nearly $100 million in celebrity-raised wildfire aid reportedly fails to reach victims. 
It’s Monday, July 28, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. 
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Trump’s EU Trade Win &amp; Ghislaine Maxwell Questioned" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DrYwQjirTxM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2>Trump Strikes EU Trade Deal, Brokers Ceasefire</h2>
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&nbsp;
Topline: President Trump secured a historic trade agreement with the European Union over the weekend and successfully brokered a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. 
On Sunday, President Trump finalized a massive trade deal with the EU just four days before his August 1 deadline. Under the terms of the agreement, the United States will set a baseline tariff of 15% on most European goods, while the EU will open its markets to American products at a zero-percent tariff. The EU also agreed to purchase $750 billion in energy and defense products from the United States. Collectively, the nations in the EU bloc are America&#8217;s largest trading partner.
Announcing the deal, Trump <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949527667478319115">said</a>, “It’s great that we made a deal today instead of playing games.” The agreement is a significant win for the White House, as the EU had initially proposed a lower 10% tariff rate.
The deal capped off a weekend of foreign policy wins for the president. After a long-disputed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/very-good-conversation-trump-says-peace-between-cambodia-and-thailand-imminent-after-phone-calls">border conflict</a> between Thailand and Cambodia erupted into a firefight that killed at least 35 people, Trump intervened. The president threatened both nations with 36% tariffs if they did not immediately begin peace talks. Within hours, the two countries agreed to negotiations, which are set to take place on Monday.
With the deadline just days away, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick issued a firm warning to other trading partners that have not yet reached an agreement with the United States. &#8220;No extensions, no more grace periods — August 1st, the tariffs are set,&#8221; he said. 
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<h2></h2>
<h2>DOJ Questions Ghislaine Maxwell For The First Time</h2>
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Topline: The Department of Justice has interviewed Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell for the first time, a development that legal experts find remarkable, as FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino issued a cryptic warning about government corruption. 
The DOJ met with Maxwell last week, with her attorney David Oscar Markus confirming that prosecutors questioned her about &#8220;100 different people.&#8221; Markus noted that it was the &#8220;first opportunity she&#8217;s ever been given to answer questions about what happened.&#8221; George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley called the development remarkable, expressing shock on Fox News that Maxwell, &#8220;the one who knows the most,&#8221; had been an untapped resource for so long. 
It&#8217;s very likely that Maxwell hopes to trade her testimony for clemency &#8211; she&#8217;s currently serving a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/ghislaine-maxwell-sentenced-20-years-prison-conspiring-jeffrey-epstein-sexually-abuse">20-year sentence</a> for her role in Epstein&#8217;s sex trafficking ring. President Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Maxwell, but her attorney stated that there have been no discussions on this point. Maxwell was reportedly offered limited immunity for the interviews. 
As the DOJ began questioning Maxwell, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino released a statement on X regarding his discovery of political corruption within the government. Bongino said that the information he has seen relating to government weaponization &#8220;shocked [him] down to [his] core&#8221; and that he would &#8220;never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.&#8221; He urged patience and promised answers would come after a full investigation is completed &#8220;by the book and in accordance with the law.&#8221; 
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<h2>California Wildfire Aid Reportedly ‘Disappears’</h2>
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Topline: President Trump is criticizing California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom after nearly $100 million in aid raised by the &#8220;FireAid&#8221; celebrity concert reportedly failed to reach the wildfire victims it was intended to help. 
The &#8220;FireAid&#8221; concert, featuring A-list artists like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, raised money for residents impacted by the devastating Pacific Palisades and Altadena wildfires earlier this year. Celebrity spokespeople, including actors Miles Teller and Samuel L. Jackson, assured the public that &#8220;All the money raised will go directly to people who need it.&#8221; However, victims on the ground say they have not received any of the money. 
President Trump took to social media to blast the situation, calling it &#8220;A TOTAL DISASTER&#8221; and &#8220;ANOTHER DEMOCRAT INSPIRED SCAM.&#8221; He also slammed Newsom’s forest management, which he said allowed the fires to happen in the first place. FireAid has since issued a statement claiming the plan was never to make direct payments to individuals, but to work through local non-profits. 
An investigation by local news editor Sue Pascoe, who lost her home in the Palisades fire, found that some of these nonprofits appear to be using the funds for their own social and political causes. One group promised to use the money to &#8220;cultivate egalitarian relationships based on trust and respect,&#8221; while another said it would work to build &#8220;a more humane and democratic society.&#8221; Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) is now pushing for an investigation into where the funds went.

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Morning Brief: Trump’s EU Trade Deal, Ghislaine Maxwell’s Interview & California’s FireAid Meltdown

California

European Union

Gavin Newsom

Ghislaine Maxwell

Morning Wire

Tariffs

Thailand

Wildfires

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said that he&#8217;s been &#8220;shocked&#8221; by what he&#8217;s learned so far during his time with the Bureau, specifically with regard to the politicization and &#8220;weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations.&#8221;
Bongino, who left a lucrative career in talk radio to take his post at the FBI, shared his observations in a lengthy post on X, promising to follow the investigations wherever they might lead in order to ultimately get &#8220;the answers WE ALL DESERVE.&#8221;
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During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening.
The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization…
— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1949125573055332672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening,&#8221; Bongino began, referring to his routine updates informing his followers of the work he and FBI Director Kash Patel are doing behind the scenes.
&#8220;The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations. It is a priority for us,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core. We cannot run a Republic like this. I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.&#8221;
Bongino concluded with a promise to get to the bottom of the issues at hand, no matter what the outcome, because he said the people deserved to know the truth.
&#8220;We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law. We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not &#8216;my truth,&#8217; or &#8216;your truth,&#8217; but THE TRUTH,&#8221; he said. &#8220;God bless America, and all those who defend Her. Respectfully, Dan.&#8221;

‘Shocked Me To My Core’: Dan Bongino Rattled By What He’s Uncovered At FBI So Far

'Shocked Me To My Core': Dan Bongino Rattled By What He's Uncovered At FBI So Far

Corruption

A poll from Reuters/Ipsos conducted this week showed that a large majority of Americans believe the federal government is hiding information on the Jeffrey Epstein case, as President Donald Trump calls those continuing to focus on the case &#8220;pretty bad people.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/USA-TRUMP/EPSTEIN-POLL/zjvqoexxgvx/">poll</a>, which surveyed 1,027 U.S. adults and ran on Tuesday and Wednesday, found that 69% of respondents said that the federal government is covering up details about Epstein&#8217;s alleged client list. Only 6% said there was no cover-up, and 25% said they were unsure or did not answer. The survey results also showed that around two-thirds of Republicans believe the government is hiding something about Epstein&#8217;s supposed clients.
On Epstein&#8217;s death, 60% of Americans said the federal government is hiding information from the public, including 55% of Republicans.
Trump has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-epstein-story-is-kept-alive-by-pretty-bad-people-including-fake-news?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+Epstein+Story+Is+Kept+Alive+By+%E2%80%98Pretty+Bad+People%2C+Including+Fake+News%E2%80%99">asked</a> about the case multiple times this week, and on Wednesday, he lashed out at his &#8220;past supporters&#8221; who he says have fallen for a &#8220;hoax&#8221; pushed by Democrats.
&#8220;Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this &#8216;bulls***&#8217; hook, line, and sinker,&#8221; he wrote on Truth Social. &#8220;They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.&#8221; He added that he no longer wants the support of those who continue to focus on the Epstein case.
In a press gaggle on Tuesday night, Trump told reporters, “I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring, and I don’t understand why it keeps going. I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”
The Trump administration&#8217;s handling of the case has sparked controversy among the president&#8217;s base as Republicans and Democrats gear up for the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats have already <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/democrats-put-previous-misgivings-hit-trump-jeffrey-epstein-files-rcna218608">latched</a> onto the issue to attack Trump, voting in the House to release the Epstein files, a move that Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-gop-rejects-claims-of-blocking-epstein-files-a-misunderstanding">called</a> a political stunt and a power grab.
Among all of the issues respondents were asked about in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, Trump scored the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-faces-backlash-69-believe-epstein-details-concealed-reutersipsos-poll-2025-07-17/">worst</a> on his handling of the Epstein case, with just 17% of Americans approving of the job his administration has done on the issue. Thirty-five percent of Republicans said they approved of Trump&#8217;s handling of the Epstein case compared to 30% who disapproved. The rest of the Republicans polled either said they were unsure or didn&#8217;t answer the question.
Conservatives have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-pam-bondi-botched-epstein-rollout-eight-ways-from-sunday">blasted</a> Attorney General Pam Bondi&#8217;s handling of the Epstein case after the Department of Justice said last week that it did not find evidence of a client list existing and concluded that Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell in 2019. Bondi said in February that she had the client list sitting on her desk, but months later, she clarified that she meant that she was reviewing the Epstein files.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino were also reportedly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bondi-or-bongino-bongino-wont-remain-at-fbi-if-bondi-keeps-job-source-says">frustrated</a> with Bondi&#8217;s handling of the case, and Bongino considered resigning if Bondi remained in her position. Trump said that Bondi did &#8220;very well&#8221; handling the Epstein case, and is also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hes-in-good-shape-trump-speaks-with-bongino-after-flare-up-with-bondi">continuing</a> to back Patel and Bongino as the White House attempts to smooth things over. Bongino has not resigned, and Trump said on Sunday that he&#8217;s &#8220;in good shape.&#8221; Bongino&#8217;s official X account, which is usually active, has not <a href="https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/with_replies">posted</a> since last Wednesday.
Some right-wing political commentators and Republican lawmakers have urged the administration to be more transparent with the details surrounding the Epstein case. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/politics/epstein-files-trump-bondi">said</a> earlier this week that he&#8217;s &#8220;for transparency&#8221; on the issue.
“It’s a very delicate subject. We should put everything out there and let the people decide it,” Johnson said.

Donald Trump and Pam Bondi

More Than Two-Thirds Of Americans Believe Government Is Hiding Details On Epstein Case: Poll

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