TJ Madsen is among the founding members of the New Herald Tribune and chairs the editorial board. He worked for national syndicated newspapers in Newark, Philadelphia, and Baltimore before moving to the midwest.
December 18 , 2025
Washington, D.C. — Dan Bongino, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and former Secret Service agent, announced his resignation on Wednesday, marking the end of a brief but high-profile tenure at the nation’s leading law enforcement agency.
Bongino, who was appointed to the deputy role by President Donald Trump, said in a statement that his departure was motivated by a deep “personal and moral commitment” to pursuing unanswered questions surrounding the 2019 death of financier Jeffrey Epstein. “It’s time for me to focus all my energy on finding the truth,” Bongino said. “The American people deserve to know what really happened.”
The FBI confirmed Bongino’s resignation, noting that his decision was voluntary and effective immediately. In a short press release, the Bureau thanked him for his service, citing his “strong leadership and dedication to national security.” No successor has yet been named.
During his time as deputy director, Bongino focused primarily on internal reform efforts and counterintelligence operations. His departure is the latest in a series of leadership shifts at the Bureau following a politically turbulent period for federal law enforcement.
Bongino, a frequent media commentator and bestselling author, has not elaborated on how he plans to conduct his independent investigation but suggested he would “use every lawful means available.” He has not ruled out forming a private task force of former investigators and forensic analysts.
As of Wednesday evening, the Justice Department declined to comment on whether Bongino’s new project would intersect with any ongoing federal inquiries.
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