By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he thought FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wanted to “go back to his show,” following media reports that the former podcaster was planning to quit his role.
“Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” Trump told reporters.
FBI spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bongino, a former New York City police officer, member of the Secret Service and right-wing podcaster, was an unusual pick for the FBI’s No. 2 post, which historically had been filled by career agents who had worked their way up the ranks. He was made deputy over objections from the FBI Agents Association, a group representing 14,000 primarily current agents, despite assurances from FBI Director Kash Patel, who had earlier promised to install a career agent to the position.
Several people briefed on the matter told Reuters that his belongings in his office were already boxed up, though another person said Bongino was working on Wednesday at FBI Headquarters.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Bhargav Acharya; editing by David Ljunggren and Scott Malone)
