Bongino claims FBI corruption, fears retaliation

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has publicly expressed fears of retaliation after uncovering what he describes as systemic corruption within the agency. In a recent interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity, Bongino claimed that documents he found in FBI offices last year proved the bureau knew the 2016 Russia investigation into then-President Donald Trump was baseless. He described the files as the 'mother lode' of evidence, including a highly sensitive document that was not meant to be seen outside the office. Bongino left the FBI in January 2024, roughly 10 months after joining, and has since expressed concerns about potential legal or physical retaliation. He compared his situation to Trump's, who has faced multiple investigations and indictments. Bongino also discussed internal divisions within the FBI, describing the agency as split between 'good' and 'bad' agents, with some he referred to as 'snakes.' He and former FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly struggled to identify which agents were trustworthy, sometimes relying on outside sources for vetting. Bongino's claims have not been independently verified, and the FBI has not publicly responded to his allegations.