FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino have come under fire from Judicial Watch, a conservative legal advocacy group closely aligned with former President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, Judicial Watch released a scathing statement expressing disappointment over the FBI leaders' perceived inaction on high-profile investigations, specifically the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The complaint accentuates growing frustration among Trump's allies about the lack of transparency and meaningful probes promised by the agency.
Judicial Watch, through its chief investigator Micah Morrison, accused Patel and Bongino of becoming "hostages" to the entrenched powers in Washington, as reported by Politico. Morrison pointed to the FBI's tepid progress and the absence of new revelations in the Epstein case as indicators of their failure to uphold investigative commitments. The group, spearheaded by Tom Fitton, a staunch Trump supporter, has a history of taking legal action against the federal government on various issues, including the pursuit of Hillary Clinton's emails and the investigation into Hunter Biden's laptop, often with Trump's vocal backing.
The criticism of Patel and Bongino escalated following their recent appearance on Fox News. Contradicting previous insinuations of foul play made before assuming their FBI roles, they stated that Jeffrey Epstein had died by suicide. Patel, during the interview, insisted, "But this was a suicide. That’s just what it is." Bongino confirmed his agreement after reviewing all relevant material. This stance starkly disappointed many right-wing activists who had been advocating for the theory that Epstein was murdered to protect powerful figures and led to a division with online conservative figures who had anticipated a more thorough investigation.
Addressing the controversy in a conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan, Patel defended the FBI's integrity and dismissed any notion of concealing information related to Epstein. He attributed the mismatch between public expectations and the FBI's findings to years of misinformation. However, the FBI itself has declined to comment on Judicial Watch's critique.
The dissatisfaction was compounded by the release of Epstein files earlier this year, which many conservatives hoped would implicate high-profile individuals. Labeled as "Phase 1" by the Justice Department, the disclosure fell short of those expectations, leading to further discontent. Attorney General Pam Bondi hinted that the FBI might have withheld significant material, as thousands of pages remained unreleased, prompting Judicial Watch to file a lawsuit in April seeking the complete set of documents.
Moreover, Judicial Watch's latest statement took aim at Patel's personal life, accusing him of a "jet-setting lifestyle" that detracted from his FBI duties. Bongino, conversely, shared the emotional strain of his role in a May interview, revealing the personal sacrifices, including separation from his family while working in Washington.
The tension within the conservative community over the FBI's direction under Patel and Bongino's stewardship, particularly regarding the Epstein case, underscores the challenges faced by Trump's allies in seeking accountability and transparency from federal agencies.
