Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is considering resigning from his post following the release of the Jeffrey Epstein memo, CNN reported on Friday.
Bongino reportedly considered resigning after a heated exchange with US Attorney-General Pam Bondi.
Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel were questioned whether or not they were behind a story that alleged that the FBI wanted to release more information about the Epstein case, but that the US Justice Department stifled the plan.
This comes after Bondi received a considerable amount of criticism from Trump supporters on her handling of the case. The Justice Department walked back claims that she had made regarding Epstein's client list. In a memo released Monday, it added that there was no evidence that Epstein was murdered.
“This systematic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list,’” an unsigned Justice Department memo stated.
“There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
The department said that it would not release any more information at this time, reportedly enraging Bongino, Patel, and other Trump supporters who have pushed various conspiracy theories regarding the case.
The Monday memo added that "perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein" did not serve the administration’s priorities of "combating child exploitation and bringing justice to victims."
“To that end, while we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”
Bongino had previously touted a 10-hour surveillance video from outside Epstein’s cell as proof that the sex offender had not been murdered. The video shows that no one entered or exited Epstein’s cell on the day of his death.
“There is a video, and when you look at the video - and we will release it, we’re working on cleaning it up to make sure you have an enhanced - and we will give the original so you don’t think there are any shenanigans - you will see no one in there but him. There’s just nobody there,” Bongino said.
“There’s video clear as day,” he added. “He’s the only person in there and the only person coming out. You can see it.”
However, the video jumps ahead at one point by about a minute, leading to speculation on what occurred then.
Bondi says the recording system used in the prison resets every day at midnight, meaning that the same minute is skipped every day. But Bongino was internally blamed for the incident as rumors exploded online.
He and Patel, along with many other Trump supporters and administration insiders, are reportedly extremely displeased with Bondi’s handling of the case and the ensuing media circus.
Bondi said as early as February that she was reviewing files related to the case, and even told Fox News that Epstein’s client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”
Shortly after, the Justice Department released a series of documents related to the case and instructed FBI agents to work 24/7 to review the evidence.
However, Bondi received considerable criticism when the public realized that many of the documents had already been released. Federal law prevented the release of some information to protect Epstein’s victims, many of whom were abused when they were minors.
As such, Trump supporters accused Bondi of withholding information from the public. One administration official told CNN that she had “bungled the case from the start” by overpromising results on bombshell evidence.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Trump backed the investigation, and added that the president “is proud of Attorney General Bondi’s efforts to execute his Make America Safe Again agenda, restore the integrity of the Department of Justice, and bring justice to victims of crime.”
The memo took back Bondi’s previous claims, disrupting years of right-wing conspiracies and enraging Trump supporters invested in the matter.
CNN reported that while Bongino hadn’t made a final decision on whether to leave or not, he didn’t come into work on Friday. A source close to Bongino told Axios that “he ain't coming back."
“The whole thing has been a complete mess and no one is happy,” a source briefed on the matter told CNN.
Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche said on Friday that “the suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo’s composition and release is patently false.”
Patel and Bongino have reportedly been at odds with Noem for months over the investigation. The issue reportedly stems from a news interview early in Trump’s second term where Bondi stated that the FBI was still reviewing the case, when it had already been turned over to the Justice Department, sources told CNN.