Bailey will now serve alongside Bongino in the number-two role, Patel and Bondi confirmed to Fox News Digital, which first broke the story. Bongino, who was appointed as the FBI’s sole deputy director earlier this year, shocked colleagues in July when he largely isolated himself from internal operations following the Epstein files dispute.

President Trump has appointed Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to be FBI co-deputy director alongside Dan Bongino.

FBI agents are trained to treat all defendants with due process throughout the investigative process and during any subsequent prosecution.