A bitter confrontation between Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation erupted at the White House on Wednesday, leaving the senior law enforcement official considering resignation and exposing deep rifts within the Trump administration.
Bongino took Friday off from work to contemplate his future after the heated exchange, during which Bondi accused him of leaking damaging information to conservative media outlets, according to multiple officials familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The extraordinary clash, witnessed by FBI Director Kash Patel, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, underscored the administration’s struggle to manage fallout from its botched handling of the Epstein case.
Public Expectations Dashed
The confrontation came just days after the Justice Department acknowledged that convicted sex offender Epstein never maintained a “client list” of powerful figures, contradicting months of suggestions from Bondi and other administration officials that such a document existed.
In a two-page memo released Monday, the department also reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019, dismissing widespread conspiracy theories about his death that administration officials had previously fuelled.
The acknowledgements represented a stunning reversal for an administration that had promised transparency and suggested explosive revelations were forthcoming about the disgraced financier’s connections to the wealthy and powerful.
Laura Loomer, the far-right influencer with close ties to the administration, claimed Friday that Bongino was “seriously thinking about RESIGNING” over the handling of the case. A person close to Bongino confirmed he was “very angry” and considering his options.
Blame Game Intensifies
The Wednesday confrontation centred partly on a NewsNation article suggesting the FBI would have released Epstein files months earlier if acting independently, according to sources familiar with the exchange.
Bondi believed Bongino, who had promoted Epstein conspiracy theories as a popular podcast host before joining the FBI, was the source of stories portraying her as responsible for the backlash, officials said.
“Pam said her piece. Dan said his piece. It didn’t end on friendly terms,” one person briefed on the heated discussion told media outlets. Bongino left the meeting angry, the source added.
During another recent confrontation, Bongino reportedly told Bondi she had “overhyped” expectations about what the investigation review would reveal, particularly regarding alleged videos and a client list.
Failed Promises
The controversy stems from months of public statements by administration officials suggesting major revelations were imminent. In a February Fox News interview, Bondi said a client list was “sitting on my desk” when asked directly about releasing names.
She also claimed the FBI had provided a “truckload” of previously withheld evidence and suggested the previous administration had deliberately suppressed documents. “Sadly these people don’t believe in transparency,” Bondi said in March.
The attorney general had additionally suggested investigators possessed “tens of thousands” of recordings showing Epstein “with children or child porn,” claims that puzzled lawyers and law enforcement officials involved in the original cases.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attempted damage control Friday, posting on social media that he had “worked closely” with both Patel and Bongino on the Epstein memo and that “all of us signed off” on its contents.
“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,” Blanche wrote.
Conspiracy Theories Backfire
The administration’s handling of the case has infuriated Trump’s base, particularly online conspiracy theorists who had expected vindication of theories about Epstein maintaining blackmail material on powerful figures.
“People ask all the time, ‘Do you like it?’ No. I don’t,” Bongino had told Fox News last month about his FBI role, even before the current controversy erupted.
The former Secret Service agent and conservative media personality had himself promoted Epstein conspiracy theories before joining the administration, making his current position particularly awkward.
By May, both Bongino and Patel had begun trying to temper expectations, stating in television interviews that evidence clearly showed Epstein had committed suicide. “The evidence we have in our files clearly indicates it was in fact a suicide,” Bongino said on Fox’s “Hannity.”
Presidential Frustration
President Trump himself appeared exasperated with the continued focus on Epstein during a Tuesday cabinet meeting, interrupting a reporter’s question to Bondi.
Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?” Trump asked. “This guy’s been talked about for years… We have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And people are still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.”
Sources indicated Trump “loves Pam and thinks she’s great,” despite criticism from some advisers. However, the public infighting between his top law enforcement officials presents a significant challenge.
Video Discovery Controversy
One of Bongino’s specific frustrations involved a 10-hour surveillance video from outside Epstein’s cell that he discovered during the investigation review, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The deputy director was initially elated, believing it provided definitive proof Epstein had not been murdered. However, the video contained a missing minute, which only fuelled more conspiracy theories about a cover-up.
Dan found the video with the missing minute. He vouched for it after a ‘thorough review,’ he said, and he thought this would end the matter,” a senior administration official said. “When that didn’t work, he lost his mind and ran out of D.C.”
Institutional Tensions
The episode has exposed deeper tensions between the Justice Department and FBI over managing politically sensitive investigations while satisfying the demands of Trump’s base.
Hundreds of FBI agents had been ordered to work overtime reviewing thousands of pages and hours of video, only to confirm previous findings that Epstein died by suicide and maintained no client list.
The White House attempted to minimise the conflict, with spokesman Harrison Fields stating that Trump’s law enforcement team was working “seamlessly and with unity.
However, sources described the situation as “a complete mess” with multiple officials blaming each other for the debacle. At various points, Bondi, Bongino and Patel have each complained about being unfairly scapegoated.
As of Friday evening, Bongino had not made a final decision about his future, though sources close to him suggested resignation remained a strong possibility. His unusual silence on social media since Wednesday has fuelled speculation about his intentions.
The extraordinary public breakdown in relations between the nation’s top law enforcement officials over a case involving a convicted sex offender highlights the challenges facing an administration that promised both transparency and vindication of conspiracy theories that ultimately proved unfounded.
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