Former FBI co-deputy director Dan Bongino made a fiery return to his podcast on Monday. He spent the episode defending the agency’s review of the Jeffrey Epstein case and interviewing President Donald Trump. Bongino recently stepped down from his role as the No. 2 official under FBI Director Kash Patel.
Bongino described the handling of the massive Epstein file release as a “level 10 problem.” He admitted that the public disclosure was never going to please everyone. “It’s been a crazy year,” Bongino said, reflecting on his shift from a fierce FBI critic to one of its top leaders.
During the interview, President Trump suggested Bongino might be a bigger asset behind a microphone than at a desk. “I think maybe, maybe I’d rather have you where you are,” Trump said. He noted that very few people possess Bongino’s ability to communicate with the movement.
Bongino was a controversial pick for the bureau last year. He had no prior FBI experience and previously called for the organization to be “disbanded.” He famously labeled the agency an arm of the “deep state” following the search of Mar-a-Lago.
The podcaster also addressed his past theories regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s death. While he previously suggested Epstein was killed, Bongino backed off those claims last May. He told Fox News that cell video confirmed Epstein was the only person in the room.
Bongino now intends to use his platform to combat “grifters” and “doomers” within the political ranks. He claimed he always planned to serve only one year in the administration. His return to media marks a pivot back to his roots as a high-profile pro-Trump commentator.