Dan Bongino, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and well-known conservative pundit, has been appointed as the FBI Deputy Director. The announcement was made by former President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he praised Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country.” Trump described the appointment as “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice.”
The appointment of Bongino, alongside Kash Patel, a loyal Trump ally recently sworn in as FBI Director, raises concerns among Democrats. They fear that the Republican leadership might use the FBI to target political adversaries. Patel has expressed intentions to reshape the bureau by relocating employees from its Washington headquarters and prioritizing traditional crime-fighting duties.
Traditionally, the role of FBI Deputy Director is held by a career agent responsible for managing day-to-day law enforcement operations. Despite this, neither Bongino nor Patel have prior experience with the FBI, leading to questions about their qualifications, especially as the U.S. faces escalating national security threats. The position of Deputy Director does not require Senate confirmation.
Natalie Bara, President of the FBI Agents Association, emphasized in an internal newsletter that the Deputy Director should be an active Special Agent, citing reasons such as operational expertise and the trust of the Special Agent population. This was agreed upon by Patel in a January meeting.
Before his appointment, Bongino served in the Secret Service under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. He later became a prominent figure in the Make America Great Again movement. Bongino has been influential in spreading false information about the 2020 election, claims that have been dismissed by judges and former Attorney General William Barr.
Following the death of Rush Limbaugh in 2021, Bongino took over his radio show time slot. His career also includes a stint with the New York Police Department in the 1990s, followed by a decade of commentary on Fox News. He hosted a Saturday night show on the network from 2021 to 2023 and currently hosts The Dan Bongino Show, one of the most popular podcasts on Spotify.
Bongino previously ran for political office, including a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and congressional seats in Maryland and Florida in 2014 and 2016, respectively, though he was unsuccessful in these campaigns. In a 2022 interview with Trump, Bongino criticized the Secret Service, labeling it a “failed” agency and calling for reforms following assassination attempts on the former president.
Bongino's appointment, along with Patel's leadership, follows the departure of former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who resigned at the end of the Biden administration. This leadership transition comes amid internal turmoil within the FBI and demands from the Justice Department for information on agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Associated Press writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.
