Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Aug 19: Missouri attorney general Andrew Bailey has been appointed as co-deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), joining conservative media figure and current FBI second-in-command Dan Bongino in a newly created dual leadership position.
The appointment, announced Monday, marks a significant shift in the Bureau’s leadership structure and reflects the administration’s ongoing effort to reshape federal law enforcement. Bailey expressed his gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and attorney general Pam Bondi for the opportunity, vowing to uphold the Constitution and contribute to what he described as the mission to "Make America Safe Again."
“I am proud to announce I have accepted the role of co-deputy director of the FBI,” Bailey posted on X. “I will protect America and uphold the Constitution.”
U.S. deputy attorney general Todd Blanche also welcomed Bailey to the Department of Justice, hailing his tenure as Missouri’s Attorney General. “He took on the swamp, fought weaponised government, and defended the Constitution. Now he is bringing that fight to the DOJ,” Blanche wrote on X.
Bailey has announced that he will formally resign as Missouri’s Attorney General on September 8. In a public statement, he thanked Missourians for their trust and called his time in office “a humbling privilege.”
“My life has been defined by a call to service, and I am once again answering that call, this time at the national level,” Bailey said, reaffirming his roots in Missouri while committing to his new federal role.
Bailey, who assumed office in 2023, has been an outspoken conservative voice. He previously requested Supreme Court intervention in a criminal case involving Donald Trump—an effort that was denied. His tenure in Missouri also included support for abortion and gender-affirming care restrictions and a lawsuit against Starbucks over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
His new counterpart at the FBI, Dan Bongino—known for his alignment with Trump and his past as a Secret Service agent and right-wing commentator—has had a rocky tenure. Reports in July suggested internal friction within the DOJ, including Bongino’s consideration of resignation amid disputes related to the Epstein investigation.
The dual appointment comes amid continued political debate over the FBI’s role, independence, and direction under the Trump administration’s influence. The co-leadership model is being closely watched, as critics and supporters alike question what it signals for the future of federal law enforcement.