Trump sends another deputy director to work alongside Dan Bongino at embattled FBI
Missouri 's Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been hired as co-deputy director alongside Dan Bongino within the department, according to Fox News.
Patel and Bongino have been under immense pressure following a decision by Attorney General Pam Bondi to not release the Epstein files and mass departures at the agency.
Bailey has been recognized as a 'decorated war veteran' who made sweeping changes during his time in Missouri.
In the role, he launched an anti-human trafficking task force and addressed more than 1,100 cases in the state.
He also worked through the backlog of Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kits, improving the prosecution rates for sexual assault cases in the state.
During his time as Missouri Attorney General, Bailey's office saw a spike of 133 percent in trial court criminal prosecutions.
'I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Co-Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigatio n,' Bailey told Fox in a statement.
'I extend my deepest gratitude to President Trump, U.S. Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel for the privilege to join in their stated mission to Make America Safe Again.'
His formidable resume made him an ideal candidate for the role, Attorney General Pam Bondi said as she celebrated the appointment.
'I am thrilled to welcome Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI,' Bondi said.
'He has served as a distinguished state attorney general and is a decorated war veteran, bringing expertise and dedication to service.
'His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump's mission.'
And Patel, who has been under immense pressure since the bungled Epstein files release, said Bailey would be an 'integral part of this important mission' of restoring America.
Bailey's appointment comes after fears just last month that Bongino was on his way out of the department after the botched Epstein saga.
Bongino, a longtime leading proponent of theories about Epstein 's client list, failed to show up to work after Bondi and Trump assured the public no such list exists.
At the time it was reported he had threatened to resign over the handling of the investigation, which sparked mutiny within the MAGA ranks and turned some of Trump's most loyal soldiers against him.
But Bongino, a podcaster who was picked out of political obscurity to help lead the new-and-improved FBI, reportedly returned to work the following week under a cloud of uncertainty about his future at the agency.
By Monday morning, officials were starting to squirm and feared that Bongino would be a no-show yet again, but he arrived in the office a few hours later than expected.
Administration insiders claim Trump was quietly furious that one of his hand-picked appointees would so publicly go against him.
In spite of the controversy, since Patel took over at the FBI, the department has made 19,000 arrests nationwide, which is already double those made in the entirety of 2024.
At least 270 of those were human traffickers, and 1,600 were arrested for violent crimes against children.
Since Patel took over at the FBI, the department has made 19,000 arrests nationwide, which is already double those made in the entirety of 2024
At least 1,000 have affiliations with foreign terrorist organizations, and three were on the Top 10 Most Wanted list.
An administration official told Fox Trump 'wants to see bad guys prosecuted, illegals deported, and corrupt politicians held accountable.'
'We need all hands on deck to accomplish all of these important goals,' the official said.
'Andrew Bailey will serve as another set of credible, experienced hands to help Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel carry out the President's mission.'
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