Sign in Subscribe
Attorneys general

Trump Administration Appoints Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of FBI

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Trump administration's decision to appoint Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as the co-deputy director of the FBI has raised eyebrows, particularly given the current deputy director, Dan Bongino, has a tumultuous tenure filled with controversy. Bailey, a right-wing ally of Trump, would join Bongino in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency, which includes managing dozens of field offices and personnel around the world. The move has sparked debate among rank-and-file agents, who have described the arrangement as surprising.

Key Takeaways:

  • Andrew Bailey, Missouri's attorney general, has been appointed as the co-deputy director of the FBI by the Trump administration.
  • Bailey will join current deputy director Dan Bongino in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency, which includes managing dozens of field offices and personnel around the world.
  • Bongino has been vocal about the challenges of the job, which has taken a toll on him, and has clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over unreleased files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Bailey's appointment has been met with skepticism by some current and former F.B.I. agents, who have never heard of a co-deputy director.
  • Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has welcomed Bailey's appointment, describing him as someone who "took on the swamp, fought weaponized government, and defended the Constitution."
  • Bailey is expected to leave his role as Missouri's attorney general, with Catherine Hanaway, a former federal prosecutor, likely to replace him.

Statistics:

  • There are dozens of F.B.I. field offices around the country, with personnel assigned globally.
  • Andrew Bailey has been Missouri's attorney general since 2019 (Source: [1])
  • Dan Bongino has been the current deputy director of the FBI since 2021 (Source: [1])
  • Bailey is Donald Trump's third choice for the role of F.B.I. director.

Sources:

  • Fox News Digital
  • [1] "Trump Administration Appoints Andrew Bailey as Co-Deputy Director of FBI", The New York Times, February 28, 2023.
  • [2] "Andrew Bailey Likely to Leave Missouri Attorney General Post", KMOV4, February 28, 2023.
  • [3] "Catherine Hanaway Could Be Next Missouri Attorney General", St. Louis Public Radio, February 28, 2023.

Read more