Recent developments surrounding the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case have generated something of a firestorm within the Trump administration and the broader conservative base, with rumors of high-profile resignations consuming much of the news cycle over the weekend.

Most notably, reports suggested that Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino was on the verge of leaving his role due to strong disagreement with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s approach to the Epstein matter, though President Donald Trump on Sunday attempted to quash concerns over what would be an explosive departure, as the Daily Mail reports.

Memo spurs internal strife

At the heart of the reported rift between Bondi and Bongino was a recent Justice Department memo indicating the administration’s conclusion that, contrary to the suspicions of many, Epstein did indeed commit suicide in jail, that no smoking-gun client list existed, implying to many that, for all intents and purposes, the matter was at an end.

Insiders at the DOJ revealed that the substance of the memo angered Bongino to such an extent that he issued something of an ultimatum within the administration.

If Bondi remained in her post, sources stated, Bongino was determined to leave his.

Trump, Vance intervene

In an effort to quash what appeared to be a burgeoning mutiny within the administration, Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance were said to have intervened, speaking with Bongino directly to address his concerns and urge him to remain on the job.

While speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump was asked whether Bongino would still be serving as deputy director of the FBI, replying, “Oh, I think so.”

Trump continued, “I spoke to him today. Dan Bongino, very good guy. I’ve known him a long time. I’ve done his show many, many times. He sounded terrific, actually. I think he’s in good shape.”

Defending Bondi

It was on Saturday that Trump issued a full-throated defense of Bondi on his Truth Social platform and urged the MAGA base to refrain from attacks on her integrity.

“We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening. We have a perfect Administration…and ‘selfish people’ are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein,” Trump wrote.

The president also implored supporters to keep their focus on FBI work related to “investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020, and arresting Thugs and Criminals, instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein. LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB -- SHE’S GREAT.”

Bongino in the balance?

Though Trump did his best to tamp down concerns about Bongino’s potential exit, some observers have pointed to prior hints that the former talk radio host may have already been feeling conflicted about his move to D.C.

In a May sit-down with Fox & Friends, Bongino said of his recent career move, “I gave up everything for this. I mean, you know, my wife is struggling…I stare at these four walls all day in D.C., you know, by myself, divorced from my wife. Not divorced, but I mean, separated. And it’s hard.”

Despite media suggestions that FBI Director Kash Patel was also entertaining the possibility of leaving his administration role over the Epstein case, he issued a firm denial on Sunday, declaring it “an honor to serve the President of the United States” and vowing that he would “continue to do so for as long as he calls on me,” but whether the same is true for Bongino, only time will tell.