FBI deputy head says he’ll ‘never be the same’ after what he’s learned

Dan Bongino has hinted at disturbing internal revelations amid tension over the Epstein files and US government transparency

The deputy director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said he is “shocked to [his] core” by findings in ongoing internal investigations, adding that he will “never be the same” after becoming aware of certain facts. 

The bureau is currently facing pressure to release files on Jeffrey Epstein, a deceased US financier convicted of sex trafficking who died in federal custody in 2019. The circumstances of his death – officially ruled a suicide – and the government’s reluctance to publish all associated files have fueled years of speculation, including allegations of misconduct or a cover-up.

Posting on X on Saturday, Dan Bongino said the FBI is investigating “public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations.” He did not elaborate on the targets or scope but called the inquiries “properly predicated and necessary.”

During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening.

The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization…

— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) July 26, 2025

“We cannot run a Republic like this,” Bongino wrote. “I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.”

Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released over 11 hours of surveillance footage from Epstein’s New York jail cell. The footage reportedly contains an unexplained 60-second gap, fueling public suspicion of a cover-up.

The US House of Representatives has launched an oversight probe. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and former girlfriend, was recently interviewed by the DOJ under a limited immunity deal. Lawmakers have since subpoenaed her for a closed-door deposition, but her legal team says she has not agreed to testify and that her immunity does not apply to Congress.

Read more

President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, pledged during his campaign to fully release sealed files related to the Epstein case. However, he has since appeared to backtrack on that promise, provoking divisions among his political supporters amid rumors that his name may appear on the so-called “client list.”

Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative media figure, was appointed FBI deputy director in March 2025. According to The Wall Street Journal, he has clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the scope of disclosures, with Bongino reportedly pushing for full transparency and Bondi favoring a more cautious approach.