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.

The Justice Department said Monday that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, an ardent backer of President Donald Trump, had been appointed FBI co-deputy director. Bailey said he would resign as Missouri's top prosecutor to join conservative podcaster Dan Bongino in the bureau's No. 2 spot.

The FBI’s deputy director had sparred with Pam Bondi over the administration’s backtrack on the Epstein files.

Dan Bongino, former conservative radio host and current FBI Deputy Director, posted a vague but highly ominous statement Saturday about what he's learned during an internal investigation of corruption and "political weaponization" at federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies,

A review of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein has sparked a conflict between Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, sources say.