A major shake-up hit the Federal Bureau of Investigation this week as Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced he will take on a powerful new role inside the nation’s top law enforcement agency.
Bailey, a close ally of President Trump, revealed Monday that he is stepping in as co-deputy director of the FBI at a time when the bureau faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
Bailey will share the position with Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator who has recently clashed with Justice Department leadership.
In a statement announcing his appointment, Bailey said he was “eternally grateful” for the opportunity and offered thanks to both President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
I am proud to announce I have accepted the role of Co-Deputy Director of the FBI.
I extend my thanks to @POTUS and @AGPamBondi for the opportunity to serve in the mission to Make America Safe Again.
I will protect America and uphold the Constitution. pic.twitter.com/hkMi2p1bXV
— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) August 18, 2025
He described his new mission as a chance to join in the administration’s pledge to “Make America Safe Again.”
Bailey, who took over as Missouri’s attorney general in 2022 after Eric Schmitt was elected to the Senate, cemented his reputation by defending Trump during a wave of indictments and court battles in 2023 and 2024.
He later secured a full term in the state’s top law enforcement post last November.
His move into the FBI comes at a volatile moment, with Bongino still at odds with senior DOJ officials over how they handled Epstein’s case.
Welcome. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/nui5E7nWAt
— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) August 18, 2025
The Epstein scandal continues to hover over Washington. Just last month, the Justice Department and FBI released a joint memo declaring that the disgraced financier did not have a so-called “client list” and reaffirming that he took his own life inside a Manhattan jail in 2019.
That announcement infuriated Trump supporters and many Republicans who have long suspected a cover-up.
Bongino reportedly skipped work for several days in protest after heated disputes with Attorney General Bondi and other senior DOJ leaders.
Lock Them Up! Russiagate is reigniting…
Obama, Clinton, Comey, and Brennan are all on the hook!
CLICK HERE to demand Russiagate conspirators got to prison!
Former Attorney General Bill Barr re-entered the political fray Monday, testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as part of its sweeping inquiry into Epstein.
Barr told lawmakers that he never saw anything linking Trump to Epstein’s activities, according to committee chair Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.).
Comer summarized Barr’s testimony, noting the former attorney general had “never had conversations with President Trump pertaining to a client list” and had “never seen anything that would implicate President Trump.”
Comer added that Barr suggested if such evidence existed, the Biden administration would likely have leaked it by now.
🚨BREAKING: Former AG Bill Barr testified under oath today that President Trump is not connected to the Epstein files, and if he were, Biden would have already leaked it:
“He said that he had never seen anything that would implicate President Trump in any of this, and that he… pic.twitter.com/AHZtqWR6Rl
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 18, 2025
Democrats on the committee were far less satisfied. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said Republicans were going through the motions and added that she wanted to bring in more witnesses, including former Labor Secretary Alex Acosta — the prosecutor behind Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal.
The panel’s next deadline for information was set for Tuesday, demanding the Justice Department turn over all records related to its Epstein investigation. Comer said he expected the first batch of documents by Friday.
According to Comer, DOJ officials told the committee they would begin producing the files while redacting any sensitive material involving victims or minors.
Crockett countered that Democrats would push for enforcement if the DOJ failed to comply, insisting she expected “substantial” compliance.
Bill Barr—the AG when Epstein died—was in the hot seat today. But let me remind you: DOJ owes us the Epstein files beginning tomorrow. All of them. Client list included.
No delays. No redactions. No excuses. Anything less is a coverup. The American people deserve the truth, and…
— Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (@RepJasmine) August 18, 2025
Comer shot back that Democrats were politicizing the probe, accusing them of using the case to dig for “dirt on President Trump” rather than focusing on the crimes themselves.
The Oversight Committee’s investigation has already drawn in a list of heavyweights.
Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and several ex-attorneys general are among those subpoenaed. The inquiry stretches back to Epstein’s original prosecution in 2008.
BOOM! The Clintons are seething & shaking. The US House committee dropped subpoenas on Bill and Hillary?Clinton over the Epstein files
James Comey, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, Merrick Garland, Robert Mueller and others are also getting dragged into this
investigation! pic.twitter.com/EBRdnSYqIQ— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) July 24, 2025
Barr is one of ten former officials ordered to testify, with more depositions expected in the coming weeks.
Comer left the door open to bringing in Acosta, saying the committee was committed to a “serious” and “sincere” investigation.
Meanwhile, another twist hit the panel’s efforts when it withdrew a subpoena for former FBI Director Robert Mueller.
The man behind the Russia investigation into Trump had been scheduled to testify on September 2 about Epstein.
Mueller, 81, served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 and later became the special counsel who authored the high-profile “Mueller Report.”
That investigation determined Trump’s campaign did not collude with Russia in 2016, though it left open questions about obstruction.
However, sources revealed Mueller has been living in a memory-care facility, raising concerns about his health.
Reporter Paul Sperry said on social media that Mueller has been there “for the past few years.”
NEW: House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Robert Mueller to appear for a Sept. 2 deposition to provide details from an FBI investigation of Jeffrey Epstein from decades ago — even though sources tell me Mueller has been living in a memory-care facility for the past few years
— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) August 5, 2025
Following those reports, the committee cited “health issues” and pulled back its request for his testimony.
