MS NOW reporter Carol Leonnig revealed on Wednesday that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino personally roasted her just hours before announcing his upcoming departure from his position.
Leonnig posted on X that she asked Bongino whether he was stepping down from his position, to which Bongino responded that she should post what she wanted because “no one believes [her] anyway.” Later in the evening, Bongino announced that he would be stepping down from his role at the FBI.
“12:55 pm – Bongino to @MSNOWNews when I asked him for comment on story saying he was leaving his position in January. ‘Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway.’ 5:16 pm – Bongino on X: ‘I will be leaving my position in January,’” Leonnig posted.
12:55 pm – Bongino to @MSNOWNews when I asked him for comment on story saying he was leaving his position in January.
“Print whatever you’d like. No one believes you anyway.”5:16 pm – Bongino on X:
“I will be leaving my position in January.” https://t.co/gSzkGiMEaD— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) December 17, 2025
Do you think Dan Bongino's comments to Carol Leonnig were appropriate?
Bongino confirmed that he will be leaving the agency in January and expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity. The announcement came just hours after Trump told reporters that Bongino would likely leave his role and return to hosting his show.
“Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show,” Trump told reporters.
Bongino previously served as a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer from 1995 to 1999 and a U.S. Secret Service agent from 1999 to 2011. He rose to prominence while hosting the Fox News weekend program, “Unfiltered with Dan Bongino” and his podcast, “The Dan Bongino Show.”
Patel stated on X that Bongino “exceeded” his mission of restoring the FBI by bringing “critical reforms” to make it more efficient. He added that the nation is “better and safer” as a result of Bongino’s service.
“Dan is the best partner I could’ve asked for in helping restore this FBI. He brought critical reforms to make the organization more efficient, led the successful Summer Heat op, served as the people’s voice for transparency, and delivered major breakthroughs in long unsolved cases like the pipe bomb investigation. And that’s only a small part of the work he went about every single day delivering for America,” Patel said. “He not only completed his mission – he far exceeded it. We will miss him but I’m thankful he accepted the call to serve. Our country is better and safer for it.”
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