President Trump said Sunday night that former New York City police officer and Secret Service agents will become the next deputy director to become right-wing critics and podcasters.
Trump announced on a social media site that newly established FBI director Kash Patel has appointed Bongino as the second post of the country’s most powerful law enforcement agency. The role of the Deputy Director does not require confirmation from the Senate. This means that the two immovable Trump loyalty will effectively reach the top reach of an institution known for its independence tradition.
The announcement comes about an hour after the FBI Agents Association told members that Patel personally recognized that the next deputy director should be an FBI agent. The obvious cutting in selecting Mr. Bongino has strengthened the distrust between ranks and files.
The FBI did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement posted on social media on Monday, Bongino said that FBI staff will “back up and protect their mission and allow them to do their jobs as “devoted people.” “I praised it.
He added: “I work here. I’m going to lead here. And I’m here to ensure that American law enforcement maintains the values and integrity they have built up.”
In the past, FBI directors have selected senior agents with extensive experience in essentially running the department’s business. This is a complex and rigorous job that requires working closely with foreign partners and navigating delicate investigations.
Mr. Bongino’s choice was a radical and sudden departure from that practice, with two people who had never served as FBI agents overseeing the vast surveillance and investigative capabilities of the 38,000 institution, and about It raises surprising questions about how to oversee a $11 budget. Billion.
The combination of Patel and Bongino represents the most experienced leadership pair in the bureau’s history. It is also almost certain that men who freely exercise misinformation and embrace partisan politics will raise concerns about how they run institutions that are normally insulated from White House interference.
“My life right now is to own Libs.” Bongino said in 2018. He also reflects popular complaints among the far right who denounces the so-called deep state.
Bongino’s ascension comes at a time of massive upheaval for the agency as the Justice Department pushes out senior executives with decades of experience running various departments of the Directorate.
It is unclear what will happen to interim leaders Brian Driscoll and Robert C. Kissan. Their initial denial of the Department of Justice’s request for the name of the Bureau officials who investigated the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, was happy to prefer them internally from the perspective of many people in the Bureau. to what was perceived as political interference that made them prefer to stand up.
Many wanted to stay in Washington to help Patel run the FBI.
In an internal newsletter distributed to agents before Trump’s announcement, Agent Association director Natalie Bala said she and the group’s vice president Jen Moreau in a meeting with Patel last month. He said he wanted an EU inside him. “Be an active special agent on board, like in 117 years for many persuasive reasons.”
Patel said he agreed.
Patel said it remains unclear whether Trump wanted Bongino to choose, but he wanted Bongino, a person familiar with the matter, as his aide.
Bongino ran three times to elected offices before gaining popularity as a right-wing commentator.
Former Fox News host Bongino left the network in 2023. In particular, he hosted Trump on the show in 2021. Trump era.
In Fox News in December 2021, Geraldribera called the January 6th event “unleashed, incited and inspired” Trump riots, and Bongino questioned his loyalty. did. “I’m really tired of the backstab of the president you’re working on,” he said.
His tough-talking style has driven him to stardom on radio and social media. It includes Spreading the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolenfalsely claiming that masks are ineffective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus and perpetuating mazes and unfounded conspiracy theories, including a Democrat conspiracy to spy on Trump’s 2016 campaign.
in Interview with New YorkersFox News host and now Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegses, identified Bongino with the general who had obtained “serve in the information war” like him.
The news elicited questions about how the station would maintain credibility with two leaders who prefer exaggeration.
In an email to the FBI after the FBI was confirmed, Patel said, “I always have your back because I have an American back.”
Maggie Harberman Reports of contributions.
