Dan Bongino Appointment as FBI Deputy Director Sparks Concern and Controversy

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Dan Bongino's installation as the Deputy Director of the FBI has sparked widespread concern and controversy, with many criticizing his lack of experience and partisan views. Bongino, a former New York police officer and Secret Service agent, has never served in the bureau and is best known as a conservative commentator who has vocally supported Donald Trump's false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. His appointment marks the first time in the bureau's 117-year history that the second-in-command post has not been held by one of its senior agents, raising fears that the administration will attempt to use the bureau to pursue its political enemies.

The appointment has been greeted with criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, with many expressing concerns about Bongino's qualifications and potential bias. Gregg Nunziata, a Republican and former general counsel to Marco Rubio, warned that Bongino was a more extreme appointment than Patel, who has portrayed the bureau as an arm of a so-called "deep state" dedicated to undermining Trump. Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator for Connecticut, wrote that Trump has chosen "grifters" to lead the FBI, and that Bongino's entire show is telling listeners the world is ending so they buy the dozens of survivalist products he sells.

The FBI Agents Association, which represents many of the bureau's agents, had earlier written to its members claiming it had won Patel's agreement that his deputy director "should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population". However, Bongino's appointment has raised uncertainty about the fate of the two senior bureau agents Brian Driscoll and Robert Kissane, who filled the positions of acting director and acting deputy while Patel awaited confirmation. The pair refused to comply with an administration demand that they provide the names of thousands of agents who had worked on the investigation into the 6 January 2021 insurrection that saw a violent mob of Trump supporters attack the US Capitol in a failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

Here is a timeline of events leading up to Bongino's appointment: * January 2021: The 6 January insurrection occurs, with a violent mob of Trump supporters attacking the US Capitol in a failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election. * 2021: The FBI launches an investigation into the insurrection, with thousands of agents working on the case. * 2022: Patel is nominated to lead the FBI, despite having no experience in the bureau and having portrayed it as an arm of a so-called "deep state" dedicated to undermining Trump. * 2025: Patel is narrowly confirmed by the Senate to lead the FBI, with many expressing concerns about his qualifications and potential bias. * 2025: Bongino is appointed as Deputy Director of the FBI, despite having no experience in the bureau and being a vocal supporter of Trump's false claims about the 2020 election. The appointment has also raised concerns about the potential impact on the FBI's independence and its ability to carry out its duties without political interference. With Bongino's installation, the bureau is now led by two individuals who are seen as Trump loyalists, raising fears that the administration will attempt to use the bureau to pursue its political enemies.

Multiple stakeholders have expressed their views on the appointment, including: * Republicans Against Trump, who posted that "Donald Trump just named far-right MAGA podcaster Dan Bongino, a notorious conspiracy theorist who promoted the lie that the 2020 election was 'stolen,' to serve as Deputy Director of the FBI. God help us all." * Charlie Kirk, the rightwing provocateur and founder of Turning Point USA, who posted that "This is incredible news!! Thank you @dbongino for the sacrifice. I know this is in service to our country. America just got a huge upgrade." * The FBI Agents Association, which represents many of the bureau's agents, who wrote to its members claiming it had won Patel's agreement that his deputy director "should continue to be an on-board, active Special Agent as has been the case for 117 years for many compelling reasons, including operational expertise and experience, as well as the trust of our Special Agent population". Some statistical data on the FBI includes: * The FBI has 38,000 employees. * The FBI has a budget of more than $11bn. * The FBI has been led by a career agent as Deputy Director for 117 years, until Bongino's appointment. The appointment of Dan Bongino as Deputy Director of the FBI has significant implications for the bureau's future direction and its potential use as a tool for political vendettas. With his lack of experience and partisan views, many are concerned that the administration will attempt to use the bureau to pursue its political enemies, undermining the FBI's independence and ability to carry out its duties without political interference.