Andrew Bailey, co-deputy director of the FBI who was once widely seen as a potential successor to FBI Director Kash Patel, is resigning, he announced Monday.
His resignation takes effect October 2, several sources said. In an email to agents Monday morning and a post on Regarding his resignation, Bailey cited family reasons. In an X-post, Patel thanked Bailey for “his fantastic contribution to bringing about critical reforms.”
Bailey previously served as Missouri’s attorney general and was hired to help ease reported tensions between former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino. He was elevated to the rank of co-deputya position that had always been held by a career staff member. It was the first time that the work was shared between two people.
From the start, Bailey’s relationship with Patel was troubled. Initially, Bailey was not invited to the meetings, according to two sources familiar with their dynamic, with one adding that Patel instructed the staff to call him director, Bongino as assistant director and Bailey as co-deputy director.
The sources added that Patel constantly kept Bailey at arm’s length and excluded him from meetings the deputy FBI director was required to attend because Bailey constantly reported things that were unconstitutional.
Bongino LEFT the FBI in January. There is yet another FBI co-deputy, Chris Raia, who previously served as deputy director in charge of the bureau’s New York field office.
Bailey’s resignation comes shortly after two agents who oversaw counterterrorism at the Washington field office were demoted after White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, complained that the FBI was not doing enough to investigate alleged threats against them.
Stephen and Katie Miller have not called for anyone to be fired for their handling of the threats against Katie Miller, but FBI officials have chosen to reassign some FBI personnel, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Last fall, the Millers moved into military housing after a local activist protested Trump administration policies outside their home and encouraged protesters to call for a congressional investigation into Stephen Miller. NBC News first reported Bailey’s resignation.
Asked for comment, the White House highlighted Patel’s X-rated message.
Sara Cook and Julia Kimani Burnham contributed to this report.
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