Will Patel and Bongino Resign?

by Sharon Rondeau

(Jul. 11, 2025) — On Friday at 5:48 p.m., Tom Fitton of Judicial Watch and podcaster Kyle Seraphin are discussing on X a report appearing to have originated from Semafor and Daily Wire that FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino are considering resigning as a result of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s memo issued earlier this week stating no additional documents nor a “client list” long believed to exist associated with the late Jeffrey Epstein will be released.

“…while we have labored to provide the public with maximum information
regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is
the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no
further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” the undated and unsigned memo states.

At 6:07 p.m., Fox News reported Patel and Bondi have “no plans to leave,” although it acknowledged a “rift” between Bongino and Bondi arising on Wednesday.

Bondi’s memo also claims Epstein’s death on August 10, 2019 was a suicide, about which much doubt still lingers. A video the DOJ released of Epstein being escorted back to his cell on the evening prior to his death is missing one minute, adding to the controversy.

Fitton has been critical of Bondi’s handling of the Epstein case since her announcement Monday. “We are in federal court demanding answers on this,” he said on his X broadcast at 5:53. Through additional lawsuits, he said, “Judicial Watch will be relentless” in obtaining any existing documents the government has not released.

On February 21, Bondi said on Fox News the relevant documents were “on her desk” and under review.

On February 27, she wrote to Patel that she did not believe “the full set of documents responsive to my request” had been turned over. The same day, the Justice Department published a press release announcing, “Attorney General Pamela Bondi Releases First Phase of Declassified Epstein Files.”

“Today, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), declassified and publicly released files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida, among other locations,” the press release begins. “The first phase of declassified files largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the U.S. Government.”

It further stated:

“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.”  

“The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. If there are gaps, we will find them. If records have been hidden, we will uncover them. And we will bring everything we find to the DOJ to be fully assessed and transparently disseminated to the American people as it should be. The oath we take is to the Constitution, and under my leadership, that promise will be upheld without compromise.”

Attorney General Bondi requested the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In response, the Department received approximately 200 pages of documents, however, the Attorney General was later informed of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein that were not previously disclosed. The Attorney General has requested the FBI deliver the remaining documents to the Department by 8:00 AM on February 28 and has tasked FBI Director Kash Patel with investigating why the request for all documents was not followed.

The Department remains committed to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents upon review and redaction to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims.

The release contains links to ten troves of documents.

In 2008, Epstein was convicted in Florida on two charges associated with prostitution and child prostitution and served a modified jail term.

In 2019, he was again arrested for alleged sex-trafficking and was being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan awaiting trial.

Citing “sources familiar,” CNN reported Friday, “Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino has told people he is considering resigning amid a major clash between the FBI and Justice Department over the continued fallout from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein memo…The infighting over the case came to a head during a Wednesday meeting, which included Bongino, Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, the sources said. Bongino and Patel were confronted about whether they were behind a story that said the FBI wanted more information released but was ultimately stymied by the Department of Justice, they said.”