Dan Bongino Called a 'Clown' in FBI Turmoil Report
Kash Patel, 2020. Photo courtesy of Sgt. Keisha Brown, U.S. Army. Public domain.
Kash Patel, the FBI director appointed by President Donald Trump, has reportedly become the subject of a leaked 115-page report that reveals a chaotic and troubled tenure marked by bizarre behavior and deep internal unrest. The report, compiled by a national alliance of current and former FBI agents and analysts, portrays Patel as a leader overwhelmed by his role, obsessed with his image, and presiding over an agency gripped by fear and dysfunction.
A Jacket Hunt That Stalled an FBI Investigation
One of the most striking episodes detailed in the report occurred shortly after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. According to an unnamed agent, Patel arrived in Provo, Utah, on an FBI jet but "refused" to leave the plane until agents found him a medium-sized FBI raid jacket, as reported by Mediaite. Despite the availability of larger sizes, Patel insisted on a medium. This forced agents who were actively working the Kirk investigation to pause their efforts to locate the exact jacket he demanded. When a female agent's jacket was finally delivered, Patel still refused to disembark because it lacked certain Velcro patches on the sleeves. Only after members of the FBI SWAT team removed patches from their own uniforms and affixed them to the jacket did Patel step off the plane.
This episode left a poor impression on FBI personnel and became emblematic of Patel's leadership style, with sources cited in the report describing Patel as "in over his head" with "neither the breadth of experience nor the bearing an FBI director needs to be successful," as reported by The Daily Beast.
A 'Rudderless Ship' Paralyzed by Fear
The report paints a grim picture of the FBI under Patel's direction. Multiple sources describe the bureau as a "rudderless ship" and "chronically under-performing," with managers afraid to take initiative without explicit orders for fear of losing their jobs, as reported by The Guardian. One agent said the agency is "internally paralyzed by fear," with employees uneasy about being reassigned or fired for vague reasons. Another source explained that managers are "waiting on directions from the FBI director" rather than taking initiative. Patel's tenure has been marked by a culture of mistrust and uncertainty, exacerbated by his public accusations before taking office that the FBI was part of a "deep state" conspiracy against Trump. His calls for radical overhaul, including proposals to shut down the FBI's Washington headquarters and disperse employees nationwide, have unsettled many within the agency.
Social Media Obsession and Internal Discord
Sources in the report criticize Patel and his deputy director, Dan Bongino, for spending excessive time on social media and public relations efforts. Agents say they learn about bureau news more often from leadership's social media posts than through official internal channels. Sources described Bongino as "something of a clown," as reported by The Daily Beast. Others recounted being "offended" and "appalled" when Bongino reportedly said, "The truth is for chumps" during a meeting at a western FBI office, according to Mediaite. The report also details Patel's fixation on his personal image, which led to controversial actions by Patel such as allegedly ordering polygraph tests for FBI personnel who criticized him. One FBI leader called the order "needlessly punitive," as reported by The Guardian.
Contradictions and Controversies
Before his confirmation, Patel reportedly faced opposition from nearly 60 civil rights organizations citing his lack of experience, foreign ties, and misleading statements. Since taking office, he has been criticized for refusing to release Jeffrey Epstein files and for prematurely announcing an arrest in the Kirk investigation that had to be retracted. The report also highlights allegations that Patel assigned SWAT personnel to protect his girlfriend and used government aircraft for personal travel. These claims remain unproven and are presented as accusations in the report.
Mixed Reactions Within the FBI
While much of the report is critical, some sources welcomed Patel's rollback of diversity and equity initiatives and praised immigration enforcement operations. Others noted improved prosecutorial support compared to the previous administration. However, many argue that reforms have not gone deep enough to address the agency's politicization.
The White House Response and Political Context
The White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended Patel, calling him a "critical member of the President's team" who is "working tirelessly to restore integrity to the FBI," as reported by The Guardian. President Trump has denied rumors that he plans to replace Patel, despite the report's damning assessment. Bongino, in a post on X, suggested that critics of the FBI's changes are leaking "gossipy nonsense" to media outlets with agendas, while ignoring "historic results and significant reforms," as reported by The Daily Beast.
A Bureau in Turmoil
The leaked dossier, prepared for congressional judiciary committees, draws on confidential accounts from 24 FBI sources who requested anonymity out of fear of professional retribution. It reveals a bureau struggling with leadership that some insiders say lacks the "breadth of experience" and "bearing" necessary for the role. According to The Daily Beast, the report warns of "anger and resentment" over the forced involvement of FBI agents in immigration raids, which agents found "incomplete and confusing" and "tactically unsafe" and also highlights "strong and persistent" objection around the Trump administration's pardoning of Capitol attack defendants.
This portrait of the FBI under Patel is one of internal chaos, fear, and a leadership style that prioritizes optics and personal image over agency norms and operational effectiveness. The man who once criticized government waste on jet flights has become the center of a taxpayer-funded spectacle that has left many within the bureau questioning the future of the nation's premier law enforcement agency.
Whether Patel and Bongino will heed the report's advice remains to be seen, but the leaked dossier has already exposed cracks in the FBI's foundation that will be difficult to ignore.
References: Keystone Kash Tantrum Exposed in Bombshell Dossier on His 'F---ed Up' FBI | FBI under Kash Patel has become 'internally paralyzed by fear', new report reveals | FBI | 6 Craziest Revelations From Scathing Report on Kash Patel
