Allies of President Donald Trump are growing frustrated with the leadership of FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, accusing them of failing to follow through on key investigative promises.
On Wednesday, the conservative group Judicial Watch issued a harsh public statement criticizing both Patel and Bongino.
The organization, known for its strong alignment with Trump, said the pair have not provided needed transparency or launched meaningful probes during their tenure.
The group’s criticism specifically targeted the FBI’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Many conservatives had anticipated the agency would release explosive new evidence tying prominent figures to the deceased sex offender, but that has not happened.
Micah Morrison of Judicial Watch suggested that Patel and Bongino have effectively become “hostages” to entrenched Washington forces, as Politico reported.
He cited the agency’s slow progress and absence of new revelations in the Epstein case as examples of failure.
Judicial Watch, led by longtime Trump ally Tom Fitton, has frequently challenged the federal government. The group has filed lawsuits on various topics, including Hillary Clinton’s emails and Hunter Biden’s laptop, often with Trump’s support.
Patel and Bongino began facing criticism last month after an appearance on Fox News, where