FBI's Dan Bongino tries to distance himself from pipe bomb conspiracy theories after calling case 'an inside job'

Source: The Independent

Friday 05 December 2025 10:42 EST


FBI deputy director Dan Bongino is now distancing himself from the conspiracy theories and baseless speculation that fueled his right-wing media career after the Department of Justice announced the arrest of a suspect accused of planting pipe bombs around Washington, D.C., before the ‘stop the steal’ riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

Bongino appeared to walk back his past claim that the FBI was complicit in a plot to place the bombs near the Republican and Democratic headquarters when pressed by Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday.

“Listen, I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions. That’s clear, and one day I’ll be back in that space,” Bongino said. “But that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director, and we base investigations on facts.”

Bongino’s comments mark a rare admission from a member of Donald Trump’s administration to walk back conspiracy theories and false claims about an active law enforcement investigation promoted by allies. Last year, he said on his podcast that there was “a massive cover-up” in the case, which was an “inside job” launched by the federal government.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/dan-bongino-pipe-bomb-conspiracy-theories-brian-cole-b2878940.html