Bailey will now serve alongside Bongino in the number-two role, Patel and Bondi confirmed to Fox News Digital, which first broke the story. Bongino, who was appointed as the FBI’s sole deputy director earlier this year, shocked colleagues in July when he largely isolated himself from internal operations following the Epstein files dispute.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will serve as the FBI's co-deputy director, alongside the law enforcement agency's current second-in-command, Dan Bongino.