By Steve Neavling
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent turned conservative media figure, drew backlash from fellow Trump allies after acknowledging on Fox News that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, contradicting years of speculation stoked by the far right.
“I’ve seen the whole file,” Bongino said last month, sitting beside FBI Director Kash Patel. “He killed himself.”
The comment marked a stark reversal for Bongino, who in a 2023 episode of his podcast had urged listeners, “Please do not let that story go,” The New York Times reports. At the time, he was echoing former President Donald Trump, who has long suggested Epstein may have been murdered to protect powerful clients.
Their change in tone was met with anger across right-wing media. A pro-Trump podcaster accused the FBI brass of being “beholden to some unseen powers.” Tucker Carlson said they were “making a huge mistake, promising to reveal things and then not revealing them.” Alex Jones accused Patel of “gaslighting” over his handling of the Epstein case.
Patel, Bongino, and Attorney General Pam Bondi were all appointed to top roles after Trump returned to office, with promises to root out corruption and expose alleged conspiracies. Now, they are under pressure to produce results or risk alienating a base fed on years of dramatic claims.
Bondi faced similar backlash after pledging new information about Epstein’s death. When the material she released failed to deliver, she dispatched FBI agents and national security prosecutors to dig through archives, according to officials familiar with the situation. Bongino said the search continues, but little has been found.
One former Republican staffer said growing demands from Trump’s base are unrelenting.
Patel has blamed delays in releasing new Epstein material on concerns over protecting victims and witnesses. But Elon Musk, once aligned with Trump, offered another theory on social media: “Trump is in the Epstein files. That is why they have not been made public.” He provided no evidence and has since removed the post.
Patel and Bongino now mostly avoid mainstream media, instead appearing on podcasts and conservative outlets to maintain support.
“I’ve been putting out the truth my entire career,” Patel told Joe Rogan. “Why would I risk all of it on this guy?”
Still, some on the right remain unconvinced. “Damage control,” Jones said on his show.
Behind the scenes, administration officials acknowledge a growing tension between the conspiracy theories that propelled Trump’s allies to power and the demands of governing.
