What they say: “With great pride in what we have accomplished, I announce that I am resigning to return to my family in Missouri,” Bailey wrote in X Monday.
- “I am confident that Director Patel will continue to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, ensure strong organizational accountability, and restore public trust in this institution of excellence.”
- In response to Bailey’s message, Patel said he was grateful for his service and that his fantastic contribution(s) to instituting critical reforms that resulted in our historic success will endure. We will miss Andrew’s leadership at the FBI, but we are grateful that he answered the call to serve!
- When initially When contacted for comment, the FBI directed Axios to Bailey’s X-rated message from Monday morning.
Zoom: Bailey, a former Missouri attorney general, oversaw part of the FBI’s election security efforts, making his departure a little more than a month before the midterm elections particularly notable.
- Bailey was also responsible for the FBI raid on Georgia’s Fulton County Elections and Operations Center in January, where agents seized ballots and other materials related to the 2020 election, according to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Yes, but: A senior administration official familiar with Bailey’s departure told Axios’ Marc Caputo that Bailey didn’t have much of a portfolio on election security or otherwise.
- “The short answer is no: Bailey was doing nothing,” the official said. “He did nothing about election fraud, nothing about election integrity. He resigned because he had nothing to do.”
The other side: When Axios contacted the FBI for comment on the official’s remarks, a spokesperson dismissed the criticism.
- “This is false,” the spokesperson said. “Co-Deputy Director Bailey’s portfolio included election integrity, which the FBI did a lot of work on, as well as partner engagement – again, where the FBI had a strong presence.”
Catch up quickly: Bailey was first named co-assistant manager alongside Dan Bongino last August, a rare dual-directorship arrangement.
- Many FBI agents believed Bondi had tapped Bailey as a potential successor if President Trump lashed out at Patel, the New York Times reports.
- Bondi left her post as attorney general in April. Bongino announced last December that he was leaving the FBI to return to podcasting.
- After Bongino left, Christopher Raia, the former head of the FBI’s New York field office, was named co-deputy director alongside Bailey.
Go further: Patel defends FBI hiring changes involving bestiality and prostitution
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.
Marc Caputo contributed reporting.
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