Columbia Standard

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, along with fellow Democratic Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has expressed concerns regarding Dan Bongino's appointment as Deputy Director of the FBI. The lawmakers raised issues over Bongino's suitability to jointly lead the FBI alongside Director Kash Patel, citing his past remarks and lack of relevant experience.

The Senators highlighted their apprehensions in a letter addressed to Bongino, noting, "As the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) finalizes its new leadership structure, we are deeply concerned that Director Kash Patel’s senior leadership team is unprepared for the challenges of managing our nation’s premier law enforcement agency and its approximately 38,000 public servants."

The letter took issue with previous statements made by Bongino, where he criticized the FBI and suggested disbanding the agency. "As the newly appointed Deputy Director, your past public statements—which include inflammatory remarks and unsubstantiated accusations against the FBI, including calling for the Bureau’s disbandment—raise concerns about your ability to impartially lead the Bureau and credibly command the respect of its workforce," stated the Senators.

They also referenced a specific podcast episode where Bongino described the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as an "inside job." The Senators sought clarification from Bongino by asking if he now intends to provide evidence to support these allegations or if he will apologize to the FBI for spreading unverified claims.

The letter asked Bongino to respond to these inquiries by April 11, 2025. Emphasizing their need for accountability, the Senators wrote, “Your claim that the FBI is responsible for a cover-up is an extremely serious allegation that you have an obligation either to substantiate or repudiate.”

In conclusion, the Senators conveyed their expectation for Bongino's prompt response to their concerns.