FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino abruptly skipped work on Friday following a clash with Attorney General Pam Bondi in the White House over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, according to Axios.
This explosive clash came as the Trump-era DOJ formally recanted on previously promoted bombshells: Epstein had no blackmail “client list,” and he was not murdered in prison. Instead, FBI and DOJ experts concluded Epstein took his own life in 2019, armed with newly released surveillance footage and a two‑page memo purporting to lay the matter to rest.
What ignited the blowup? At the heart was the administration’s release of an 11‑hour prison surveillance video—framed as irrefutable proof that no intruder accessed Epstein’s cell before his death.
But a conspicuous one‑minute gap in the footage—just before midnight—has unleashed a tidal wave of conspiracy outrage online. Bondi explained it’s due to a nightly reset cycle in the antiquated CCTV system, which wipes a minute of footage nightly. But MAGA hardliners are not buying it .
Dan Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel, both former MAGA media stars turned high‑ranking officials, were furious that Bondi front‑loaded promises of damning disclosures—only to walk them back.
Critics claim Bondi repeatedly teased the existence of a “client list sitting on her desk,” stoking expectations, then delivered nothing. Now conservatives are in meltdown over what many perceive as a calculated soft‑ball cover‑up.
During a heated meeting at the White House, officials say Bongino confronted Bondi over her mismanagement of the Epstein narrative. He sought more disclosures; she refused.
Sources describe Bongino storming out “angry” after Bondi publicly overpromised and underdelivered. Bondi reportedly accused Bongino and Patel of leaking a NewsNation piece suggesting they wanted early releases, but Bongino denied responsibility. Witnesses in the room included Patel, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief Taylor Budowich.
That Friday off sparked rumors Bongino resigned—but administration officials insist he’s still on the job. Nonetheless, the incident laid bare internal tension: Bongino had enthusiastically promoted the “missing minute” theory to his MAGA base; when the fallout exploded, he was scapegoated internally .
Meanwhile, MAGA influencers have turned on Bondi. Laura Loomer publicly declared Bongino and Patel were livid with her and demanded her firing. Others called for Trump to publicly rebuke her. Conservative media personalities like Jack Posobiec and Robby Starbuck have accused the DOJ of betrayal, pointing to Bondi’s past comments about a secret, powerful client list now officially denied by DOJ/FBI officials.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche took to X on Friday morning to insist there was no disagreement: “I worked closely with @FBIDirectorKash and @FBIDDBongino on the joint DOJ‑FBI memo regarding Epstein. We all signed off on it.” He flatly rejected claims of internal division.
I worked closely with @FBIDirectorKash and @FBIDDBongino on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files. All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and…
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) July 11, 2025
Still, the public narrative is splintering. On the one hand, the administration denies wrongdoing and asserts the case is closed—with no murder, no client list, no intent to investigate further. On the other, right‑wing activists see familiar bait‑and‑switch politics: first, promise revelations that supposedly shock the swamp—then produce sanitized boilerplate and shut the door .
What’s at stake? For Trump’s base, the Epstein files symbolized a rare opportunity to expose elite corruption. The walk‑back on the client list, plus the missing minute, shattered trust. The controversy now threatens cohesion among the most fervent MAGA supporters, many of whom feel sold out by their own people.
Bongino’s evolution from conspiracy‑flaming podcaster to FBI Deputy Director has been rocky. Once he broke from the MAGA narrative, affirming Epstein killed himself—alongside Patel—he was blasted by his followers for abandoning their beliefs. That tension came to a head when DOJ locked in the suicide conclusion, and critics branded him a sell‑out for aligning with establishment messaging.
The broader fallout has real consequences for the Trump Justice Department. Critics demand transparency, but the DOJ doubled down: no more Epstein documents will be released, citing victim privacy and sealed court records. Bondi insists the remaining evidence includes child pornography and will never be made public.
President Trump himself grew visibly impatient. At a Cabinet meeting, when a reporter asked about the missing minute, he snapped: “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years. We’re dealing with real tragedy in Texas—you want to waste time?” He effectively shut down the discussion, labeling it a distraction from his administration’s agenda.
As one insider put it, “Dan is not the bad guy. He shouldn’t take the fall.” Whether Bongino survives this internal storm—and whether Bondi maintains political cover—may define how deeply this administration’s credibility is eroded among the grassroots base.