White House dismisses criticism over FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s lack of agency experience

 

White House dismisses criticism over FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s lack of agency experience

From CNN's Michael Williams

Dan Bongino at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, in August 2024. 

Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The White House on Tuesday dismissed criticism over Dan Bongino’s lack of FBI experience, saying the agency’s new deputy director “understands the depth of the corruption at these institutions.”

Bongino’s new position, which oversees the bureau’s day-to-day operations, is traditionally held by a career FBI agent. The right-wing podcaster previously worked in the Secret Service, but has no experience at the FBI.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt described Bongino as a “man who loves his country and who has honorably served our country in ways that many people have not.”

“He’s also an outsider to this Washington swamp, and we often see that when outsiders are appointed to such coveted positions, a lot of people in this city get very, very nervous,” she added. “And they should be, because Dan Bongino and Kash Patel and Attorney General Bondi are focused on rooting out the corruption at these agencies and ending the weaponization of government once and for all.”