FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly threatening to quit after a spat with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, saying it’s either him or her.
According to several media reports that emerged Friday, Bongino and Bondi got into an argument at a meeting on Wednesday after the attorney general accused him of leaking stories to the media that the FBI was unhappy about the Epstein case being closed. Bondi allegedly made the accusations in front of FBI Director Kash Patel and other high-ranking officials.
“Bongino is out-of-control furious,” a person who’d spoken with him told NBC News on Friday. “This destroyed his career. He’s threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she’s fired.”
Their clash came days after the Justice Department announced Monday that a review of Epstein’s case files hadn’t turned up any evidence of his supposed client list or proof he hadn’t died by suicide, effectively closing the investigation.
Both CNN and Semafor also reported Friday that Bongino was considering leaving his post.
“He’s gone,” one source told Semafor of Bongino. “Will come back if Bondi [is] held accountable.”
Axios reported that Bongino didn’t show up to work on Friday.

Roy Rochlin via Getty Images
In another disagreement this past week reported on by The New York Times, Bongino allegedly told Bondi she’d overhyped the possibility that the review of case files would unearth Epstein’s client list, potentially exposing the connections of politicians, celebrities and other public figures to Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation.
While intrigue into possible cover-ups in Epstein’s case ― including the possibility that unreleased files could implicate some well-known names in criminal activity ― is present across the political spectrum, right-wing interest in the case hinges on the belief that the Epstein files could legitimize claims of a secretive “deep state” power structure operating within the government to take down President Donald Trump.
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Bongino, who was a popular conservative podcast host before Trump tapped him for his FBI job, was among those raising questions about Epstein’s death in recent years, saying someone was “hiding” something.
The White House dismissed reports of scuffles among top brass at the DOJ and FBI.
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team dedicated to protecting Americans, holding criminals accountable, and delivering justice to victims,” principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said in a statement. “This work is being carried out seamlessly and with unity. Any attempt to sow division within this team is baseless and distracts from the real progress being made in restoring public safety and pursuing justice for all.”