The FBI has been thrown into turmoil after Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director Kash Patel made a historic — and controversial — decision: appointing Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director of the Bureau. It’s the first time in FBI history that two people will share the number-two position, a move insiders say reflects deep divisions within the agency’s leadership.

Bailey’s appointment comes amid fallout from Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s dispute with Bondi over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Sources say Bongino has been sidelined for months, with the White House losing confidence in his leadership. Bondi praised Bailey as “a decorated war veteran and fierce defender of the Constitution,” while Bongino issued only a terse “Welcome 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸.” As the FBI now faces dual leadership for the first time ever, the move signals escalating internal power struggles — and raises questions about who truly holds command.