Speaker A
Dan Bongino, Deputy FBI Director. We are learning in like the last literally eight minutes, he is leaving that position.
Dan Bongino announces departure as Deputy FBI Director amid tensions; plans to return to podcasting and spend more time with family.
Key Takeaways
- Dan Bongino is stepping down as Deputy FBI Director after a short tenure.
- His background as a podcaster with controversial views made his FBI role unusual.
- He plans to return to podcasting and spend more time with family.
- The pipe bomber case was a significant focus during his FBI tenure.
- President Trump publicly supports Bongino's decision to leave.
Summary
- Dan Bongino is leaving his position as Deputy FBI Director after less than a year.
- His departure follows tensions related to his past promotion of conspiracy theories.
- Bongino initially gained attention as a podcaster with inflammatory claims before joining the FBI.
- He was involved in the pipe bomber case, which he now appears to take credit for.
- There is notable discussion about the unusual nature of a podcaster holding a high FBI position.
- President Trump commented that Bongino did a great job and is leaving to return to his podcast and family.
- Bongino's FBI salary is modest compared to potential earnings from podcasting.
- The report highlights the contrast between Bongino's previous conspiracy theory stance and his role inside the FBI.
- His departure is breaking news, confirmed via his recent social media post.
- NBC News encourages viewers to stay updated via their app and YouTube channel.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker B
Yes. After some tensions in part, right, around some of this stuff. Talk us through this.
Speaker A
Yeah, I mean, that was and he's sort of commented on this on Fox News.
Speaker B
And by the way, this is his uh this is his tweet or whatever online X post in the last, you can see it. I mean, in the last six minutes here, nine minutes about this too.
Speaker A
Real breaking news, but yeah, he, I mean, you know, he when he started out at before he came to DOJ, he was in this sort of podcast realm and he was saying a lot of sort of really inflammatory things and making a lot of suggestions that weren't necessarily backed up by evidence.
Speaker A
And then, you know, when he came into the Justice Department or rather the FBI, one of the first things that he really leaned in on was the pipe bomber case. And I think that that's something that he sort of um will now try to take credit for and say we got this.
Speaker B
January.
Speaker A
Exactly.
Speaker A
Um, but, you know, what got him interested in that was that he was fueling these conspiracy theories about the pipe bomb, that maybe this was a government setup. So it is just fascinating, you know, as you're reporting out to have these individuals who are very into these conspiracy theories then sort of getting inside and being like, well, maybe this wasn't exactly.
Speaker B
What I thought it was from the outside.
Speaker B
He didn't even last a year in this position though. Is that unusual to see the deputy director leave after that short a period?
Speaker A
It's unusual to have a podcaster in there in the first place in that position.
Speaker A
And I think that, you know, certainly it's usually a person who is a career employee who knows what's going on, but certainly it's a very lucrative.
Speaker A
Other side of the the bar here, you know, he's not making a huge salary right now.
Speaker A
Um, as a as a as the deputy director or co-deputy director.
Speaker A
He's going to make a lot of money when he goes back to the podcast.
Speaker B
Well, he is.
Speaker B
I was just pulling this up because President Trump, I want him to show you get this quote right on my computer over here.
Speaker B
The President Trump was asked just a little bit ago, did Dan Bongino tell you why he's leaving the FBI?
Speaker B
And the president said, um, he did a great job.
Speaker B
I think he wants to go back to his show.
Speaker B
He wants to get back to the podcast.
Speaker A
And his family, he's also that's been a thing a theme ongoing that he's been, you know, away from them.
Speaker A
But the, you know, the certain it doesn't the money doesn't hurt.
Speaker C
We thank you for watching.
Speaker C
And remember, stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app.
Speaker C
Or watch live on our YouTube channel.
Topics:Dan BonginoFBIDeputy FBI Directorpodcasterpipe bomber caseconspiracy theoriesJustice DepartmentPresident TrumpNBC Newsbreaking news
