Attorney General Pam Bondi has reportedly emerged victorious in a bitter internal feud at the Department of Justice, sidelining FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino amid continued fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein probe, according to a new CNN report.
Unnamed Trump administration officials told CNN that Bondi’s decision to appoint Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director of the FBI was a clear sign she had “won the power struggle.” Bailey’s arrival, they said, suggests Bongino is likely preparing to exit his post.
The move represents a dramatic turn in a clash that had threatened to destabilize the Trump administration’s handling of one of the most politically charged cases of recent years.
Bondi, who had been a fixture on Fox News during the early months of the Trump presidency, largely receded from public view after the DOJ announced that the Epstein case was effectively closed without releasing additional files.
The announcement triggered intense criticism from across the political spectrum and ignited speculation that Bondi’s position might be in jeopardy.
But in recent weeks, Bondi has reemerged with a stronger hand. She appeared in high-profile interviews with Fox News host Sean Hannity and Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, signaling that she believes the worst of the Epstein controversy has passed.
“It’s over,” an unnamed conservative ally told CNN. “She made it through. She’s going to be fine.”
Reports in July indicated that Bongino had clashed privately with Bondi over the handling of the Epstein records. According to those accounts, Bongino was incensed by her refusal to release additional files and demonstrated his discontent by abruptly leaving Washington for several days.
Bondi’s allies told The New York Times that she considered Bongino’s actions a breach of trust that left his role untenable. The decision to bring in Bailey, they argued, underscored her authority within the DOJ and marked the beginning of Bongino’s diminishing influence.
At the same time, the White House sought to project unity. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed suggestions that Bongino was being pushed out, insisting that Bailey’s appointment was meant to reinforce the Bureau’s leadership team rather than replace it.
“Bailey has been brought on as another set of very credible and experienced hands to work alongside the current Deputy Director Dan Bongino, under the leadership of the director Kash Patel and the Attorney General Pam Bondi,” Leavitt said.
Still, the broader picture points to Bondi as the clear winner. By weathering the storm over Epstein, reestablishing her visibility on conservative media, and securing Bailey’s appointment, she has tightened her grip on the department and demonstrated resilience where others expected her to falter.
For Republicans, the episode highlights Bondi’s political staying power in the face of controversy. Where critics had once seen weakness, supporters now argue she has shown she can both defend the administration’s decisions and outmaneuver rivals within the DOJ.
As one conservative insider put it succinctly: “She’s going to be fine.”
[READ MORE: Schiff Sets Up Legal Defense Fund as DOJ Probe Targets Real Estate Dealings]
