Dan Bongino descends into online 'crash out' after being shamed in public
Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino was widely mocked Monday after posting and sharing dozens of social media posts targeting a group that had confronted him over the weekend about his handling of the FBI’s probe into Jeffrey Epstein — with one self-described MAGA supporter describing Bongino’s behavior as an online “crash out.”
On Saturday, Bongino was confronted during an event by a group of three individuals, one of whom was Ivan Raiklin, a prominent supporter of efforts to overturn the 2020 election. One of the three individuals began shouting at Bongino, using a homophobic slur and labeling him as a "protector” of people associated with Epstein.
As of Monday morning, Bongino had posted or shared posts mocking the trio on his X account no less than 35 times, 25 of which were edited versions of a photo of the individuals that appeared to be altered using generative artificial intelligence. The edits depicted the individuals wearing a range of different attire, including pink dresses, women’s fitness apparel, and tight black leather outfits resembling fetish wear.
“They called out Dan Bongino for all of his lies ... and Dan of course had a crash out over it,” wrote X user “SeverianoNessus,” a self-described MAGA supporter but pointed critic of the president’s war against Iran.
Another X user, “SmithGreg1983,” came to a similar conclusion.
“Anyone else find it hilarious [Bongino] crashing out so hard with his reposts?” they wrote Monday in a social media post on X. “They struck a nerve.”
And X user “Janet,” another self-described MAGA supporter, said that they “almost” felt sorry for the former FBI official.
“I have to say that [Bongino] looked deflated and sick when you confronted him,” they wrote in a social media post on X, responding to Raiklin’s call for Bongino to host him on his podcast. “I almost feel sorry for him. But he had to know what he was getting into when he accepted the position at the FBI.”
Bongino has faced fierce backlash from MAGA supporters following his resignation from the FBI earlier this year. Despite having hyped up theories around Epstein prior to his role at the agency, he later signed off on a memo that concluded Epstein had died by suicide and that no evidence existed to prosecute potential co-conspirators of Epstein.