Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, became the latest Trump administration official to come under fire Monday night after Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Justice Department found no evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was murdered or that a so-called “client list” exists.
Bongino, a MAGA influencer before being tapped for the FBI, made numerous public remarks about Epstein and the “client list” over the years, frequently pushing conspiracy theories suggesting Epstein was killed and that he had blackmailed powerful elites.
“I’m not ever gonna let this story go,” Bongino vowed on Feb. 10, saying a reporter told him about tapes that Epstein used to extort the rich and powerful. He also mentioned an allegation he’d heard involving former President Bill Clinton. “I’m not letting it go ever.”
But on Monday, Bongino sang a different tune.
“We are doubling down. No letting up,” he said, sharing a screenshot of President Donald Trump’s support for the FBI and Director Kash Patel. The president was forced to defend the bureau as MAGA acolytes exploded over Bondi’s announcement.
That came after Bongino said in May video showed no one approached Epstein’s cell when he died, and no forensic evidence was found suggesting that anyone else was present at the time
“There’s no DNA, there’s no audio, there’s no fingerprints, there’s no suspects, there’s no accomplices, there’s no tips, there is nothing,” said Bongino. “If you have it, I’m happy to see it.”
MAGA fans lost it on Monday night, with more than 6,000 comments to Bongino’s post in about an hour.
“You failed us,” wrote the account Diligent Denizen.
“The gaslighting is next level. Love the people saying ‘the client list never existed’,” chided FSP Domino.
Southern Right Cross laid into Bongino in the comments.
“Holy s—man… I think you should drop better hints or give us something more than this. I can read between some lines. But I’d like to hear something like ‘all in due time’ or something more than nothing. So far the biggest questions from the most basic position would be;
1) what the hell was Bondi talking about?
2) what was Maxwell prosecuted with?
2b) I can’t spell that b—-es first name.
3) REALLY DUDE!?!
Dan, dude… this is a real mess. People are p—ed, and feel like you guys are bulls—ting. I’m just sizing this up for you.”
Another user put it more succinctly.
“Congrats, Dan! You made the right hate the FBI again,” railed Brooklyn attorney Damin Toell.
And Dominic Michael Tripi blasted, “Credibility and trust have been completely eroded. Truly a shameful and embarrassing outcome.”
“Unfortunately, it feels as though you were picked in order to silence you,” X user KryptoaD added.