FBI Director Kash Patel is reportedly weighing his resignation in a show of solidarity with Deputy Director Dan Bongino, following a heated fallout between Bongino and Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to a New York Post report.
At the heart of the dispute lies the Department of Justice’s contentious handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation—particularly around his death and the much-debated notion of a “client list.”
Tensions reportedly came to a head earlier this week when Bongino clashed with Bondi over how the Trump administration approached the Epstein case. The debate centered on the alleged existence of a “review” involving a supposed list of Epstein’s associates—something DOJ officials have consistently maintained does not exist. The confrontation has left Bongino considering stepping down, despite having been in the role for just four months.
“I don’t think Dan comes back if Pam stays,” an unnamed source told the Post, describing the relationship between the two senior officials as irreparably fractured. Though both have publicly insisted that no explosive findings emerged from the Epstein file—either regarding his death or alleged network—the disagreement behind closed doors appears far from resolved.
Sources within the DOJ suggest that Patel, a longtime ally of Bongino, might also walk away. “Kash and Dan have always been aligned,” one official said. “Both have consistently pushed for transparency. In today’s climate, where that’s increasingly rare, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take a stand.”
The internal rift follows the DOJ’s recently concluded review of Epstein’s 2019 death, which reaffirmed the official ruling of suicide. The report dismissed long-circulating rumors of blackmail or a secret list of powerful clients. Bondi echoed those conclusions during a Cabinet meeting on July 8, attempting to clarify remarks she made in a February Fox News interview.
“In that interview, I said the client list was on my desk to be reviewed,” Bondi explained. “What I meant was the Epstein file—alongside the JFK and MLK files—not a literal list of names. That got misinterpreted.”
Despite internal friction, President Trump has reportedly been reluctant to remove Bondi, even as some insiders voice concern about growing divisions within the DOJ.
Adding to the scrutiny, Bondi’s department recently released a two-page memo stating that investigators found no incriminating client list or evidence of coercion involving prominent individuals.
She also addressed persistent questions about missing surveillance footage from Epstein’s cell the night he died. Blaming outdated technology, Bondi noted, “We’re looking to release that video, but every night there seems to be a minute missing.”
Bongino, a former Fox News personality known for hinting at darker elements within the Epstein saga, previously suggested there was more to uncover. “His black book is definitely going to be damning,” he once said. However, in a more measured tone during a June Fox News appearance, he acknowledged that the case files and available footage supported the suicide ruling, albeit with limitations due to poor video quality.
Amid swirling speculation, the White House has pushed back on talk of internal discord.
“President Trump has assembled a highly qualified and experienced law and order team,” said principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields. “They’re focused on protecting Americans and delivering justice. Any claims of division are baseless distractions from the real progress being made.”
As questions linger and tensions simmer, the future of some of the DOJ’s top officials may hinge on how this internal crisis unfolds—and whether transparency or politics ultimately takes precedence.
