By Steve Neavling
Some of Donald Trump’s longtime allies are turning against his handpicked FBI leadership, accusing Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino of caving to the so-called “deep state” over their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
Judicial Watch, a conservative group aligned with Trump, sharply criticized the pair this week for failing to release major revelations about Epstein and for affirming that the disgraced financier died by suicide, a stance that contradicts popular conspiracy theories embraced by Trump’s base, Politico reports.
“Conservative insiders are alarmed by mounting signs that Patel and Bongino have been taken hostage by the Deep State consensus and are failing to bring meaningful change to the FBI,” Judicial Watch’s Micah Morrison wrote.
The Justice Department had hyped a February release of Epstein records but delivered little new information. After repeated delays, Attorney General Pam Bondi blamed the FBI for withholding documents, prompting Judicial Watch to sue for their release.
Patel and Bongino fueled further backlash last month when they told Fox News that Epstein died by suicide, despite having previously cast doubt on that conclusion.
“He killed himself,” Bongino said. “I’ve seen the whole file.”
Patel doubled down during an appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, dismissing years of speculation as “fiction.”
The FBI declined to comment on the criticism.
Judicial Watch also took aim at Patel’s reported “jet-setting lifestyle,” while Bongino, speaking to Fox News, described his job as isolating and difficult: “I gave up everything for this.”
