From Conspiracy Peddler to FBI Deputy Director: The Bongino Disaster
Mitch’s Quick Take
You don’t put a brawler in a boardroom, and you sure as hell don’t put a conspiracy peddler in charge of the FBI. Dan Bongino isn’t just unqualified—he’s the exact opposite of what the bureau needs. A guy who spent years trashing federal law enforcement is now running its daily operations? That’s not just reckless; it’s a blatant power grab. The FBI’s second-in-command should be a career professional, not a political attack dog. Bongino is the wrong pick, period. Read on to see just how much of a disaster this really is.
Introduction
Dan Bongino, a former U.S. Secret Service agent turned conservative media personality, has been appointed by President Donald Trump as the next Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI. This decision marks a radical departure from the bureau’s historical precedent of selecting career agents with decades of institutional knowledge and operational expertise for leadership roles.
Bongino, a polarizing figure known for his incendiary rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories, now assumes a position overseeing the daily operations of an agency he has repeatedly vilified. His appointment alongside FBI Director Kash Patel—another Trump loyalist with no prior FBI experience—raises profound concerns about the politicization of federal law enforcement and the erosion of the FBI’s credibility as an independent institution. This report examines Bongino’s controversial public statements, his lack of relevant qualifications, and the implications of his leadership for the FBI’s mission.
DISCLAIMER: This is an investigative opinion piece and does not provide legal, financial, tax or investment advice. Always do your own due diligence and consult with an experienced professional in your state, region or country.
Background and Professional Trajectory
Law Enforcement Career and Transition to Media
Dan Bongino began his career in law enforcement with the New York Police Department NYPD in 1995 before joining the U.S. Secret Service in 1999. During his 12-year tenure, he served on the protective details for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, earning a reputation as a competent and apolitical agent. However, his resignation from the Secret Service in 2011 marked a dramatic shift toward partisan activism. Bongino launched unsuccessful congressional campaigns in Maryland and Florida while cultivating a media persona as a combative conservative commentator.
By 2020, Bongino had become a leading voice in right-wing media, hosting The Dan Bongino Show—a podcast and radio program ranked among the top 10 most popular news podcasts in the U.S. His rise coincided with increasingly inflammatory rhetoric targeting Democrats, the media, and federal institutions, particularly the FBI.
Catalog of Controversial Statements and Conspiracy Theories
Bongino’s public commentary over the past decade reveals a pattern of promoting baseless claims, undermining trust in democratic institutions, and amplifying narratives aligned with far-right extremism. Below is an analysis of his most consequential assertions.
2020 Election Fraud and Democratic Coup
Bongino emerged as a leading superspreader of false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. He repeatedly asserted without evidence that widespread voter fraud had occurred, describing the election as a coup orchestrated by Democrats. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue identified him as a key figure in disseminating these falsehoods, which fueled the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Notably, Ashli Babbitt, the Trump supporter fatally shot during the riot, had retweeted Bongino over 50 times in the preceding months.
In 2024, Bongino continued to amplify debunked theories, claiming on his podcast that the Biden crime family had colluded with foreign actors to manipulate election results. Such rhetoric directly contradicts findings from over 60 court cases, bipartisan election officials, and former Attorney General William Barr, who dismissed fraud claims as bullshit.
COVID-19 Misinformation and Anti-Mask Rhetoric
During the pandemic, Bongino used his platform to downplay the severity of COVID-19 and oppose public health measures. He falsely claimed masks were ineffective, stating, The masks are a joke… They’re a political prop. These assertions led YouTube to permanently ban his channel in 2022 for violating its misinformation policies. Internal Facebook documents later revealed that Bongino’s posts generated more engagement than content from Fox News and CNN combined, amplifying vaccine skepticism and anti-lockdown sentiment.
Notably, Bongino threatened to quit his radio show in 2021 over Cumulus Media’s vaccine mandate—despite having been vaccinated himself. This hypocrisy underscores his prioritization of political theatrics over factual consistency.
Deep State and FBI Weaponization Narratives
Bongino has long accused the FBI of operating as a deep state arm of the Democratic Party. In 2023, he declared the bureau an oppo research firm for Democrats with an armed political enforcement branch. He has called for the FBI to be disbanded and rebuilt, alleging without evidence that agents conspired to frame Trump during the Russia investigation. Following the 2022 search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, Bongino denounced the FBI as lost, broken, and irredeemably corrupt, urging a purge of agents involved in the probe.
These claims ignore the FBI’s historically nonpartisan ethos and the fact that many investigations into Trump—including the Mueller probe—were initiated under Republican-appointed leadership.
Immigration and Border Security Fearmongering
Bongino has consistently portrayed immigration as an existential threat, echoing Trump’s rhetoric about open borders and migrant invasions. In 2025, he accused the FBI of leaking details about planned immigration raids to sabotage enforcement efforts, calling alleged leakers stupid and vowing they would be jailed. Such statements disregard the complexity of immigration policy and the FBI’s role in combating human trafficking and cross-border crime.
QAnon-Adjacent Rhetoric
While avoiding explicit endorsement of QAnon, Bongino has trafficked in narratives popular within the conspiracy movement. He has suggested globalist elites are orchestrating a war on traditional values and alleged—without evidence—that Hillary Clinton’s email server contained proof of a Biden crime network. These claims mirror QAnon’s obsession with shadowy cabals and stolen elections.
Lack of Qualifications and Fitness for Office
No FBI Experience or Institutional Knowledge
The FBI Deputy Director role has historically been filled by career agents with deep operational expertise. Bongino’s resume—spanning NYPD patrols, Secret Service protection, and media commentary—offers no comparable qualifications. Former FBI officials emphasize that managing the bureau’s 38,000 employees and 11 billion dollar budget requires familiarity with its culture, protocols, and investigative methodologies. Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, warned that appointing an outsider risks operational paralysis and erodes agent morale.
Demonstrated Inability to Distinguish Fact from Fiction
Bongino’s career as a provocateur hinges on blurring the line between opinion and fact. His promotion of the stolen election myth—despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary—reveals a willingness to prioritize partisan loyalty over truth. Similarly, his COVID-19 misinformation campaign exposed a disregard for scientific consensus. These actions directly contradict the FBI’s mandate to base investigations on evidence rather than political expediency.
Partisan Agenda Over Public Safety
Bongino has openly advocated for using the FBI to settle political scores. He demanded the firing of agents involved in Trump-related probes, stating, If you engaged in a tyrannical investigation against Donald Trump with partisan intent… you do not deserve your job. Such rhetoric aligns with Trump’s threats to weaponize the Justice Department against opponents, undermining the FBI’s constitutional duty to remain apolitical.
Erosion of Public Trust
The FBI’s effectiveness relies on public perception of its impartiality. Bongino’s history of vilifying the bureau—calling it irredeemably corrupt and untrustworthy—has damaged this credibility. Placing a vocal critic in leadership risks institutionalizing distrust, particularly among conservatives already skeptical of federal law enforcement.
Conclusion: A Threat to the FBI’s Integrity and Mission
Dan Bongino’s appointment as FBI Deputy Director represents an unprecedented politicization of federal law enforcement. His lack of experience, coupled with a documented history of spreading conspiracy theories, renders him unfit to oversee an agency tasked with protecting national security. By empowering a figure who has openly called for the FBI’s dismantling, the Trump administration signals its intent to transform the bureau into a tool of partisan retribution.
The consequences of this decision could be dire: demoralized agents, compromised investigations, and a public increasingly skeptical of the FBI’s legitimacy. As Bongino and Patel assume leadership, the nation faces a critical test of its commitment to the rule of law—one that may determine whether the FBI can remain a guardian of justice or becomes a casualty of political warfare.
Mitch Jackson, Esq. | links
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