Andrew Bailey began work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday as co-deputy director, an unprecedented second deputy role created under the bureau's current leadership, joining Dan Bongino and reporting to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Bailey resigned as Missouri attorney general to accept the position, posting a farewell on social media that said in part, "As I approach the final hours as your Attorney General, I am profoundly grateful to Missouri, as it has been the honor of my life to serve you." The Justice Department and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Bailey's hiring last month as the administration rolled out a national crime crackdown and announced plans to increase federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C. Bondi praised Bailey as "a distinguished state attorney general and a decorated war veteran" whose experience would help advance the administration's priorities.
As Missouri's attorney general, Bailey had taken prominent stances on national issues, opposing former President Joe Biden's student debt relief efforts, challenging Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives at several companies and supporting an executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship. He also launched an anti-human trafficking task force, addressed more than 1,100 reported trafficking incidents in the state and worked to clear a backlog of Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence kits to improve prosecutions, according to statements from his office.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., lauded the appointment, calling Bailey a "stand-out prosecutor for Missouri" and saying he would be "terrific at the FBI."
Bailey will join Bongino at a time of reported tensions within the bureau related to materials in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. According to two people close to Department of Justice leadership, Bongino voiced anger during a private meeting with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Bondi and stormed out; another person said the episode led Bongino to consider resigning. It was not possible to independently verify those accounts.
Bongino has publicly asserted that evidence in FBI files shows Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, and he has been reported to be frustrated over the rollout of a public memo in July that the Justice Department and FBI said offered no further information for public release. That explanation prompted backlash among supporters of former President Donald Trump. Reports say Bongino criticized what he described as a lack of transparency in the handling of the matter.
It has been nearly two months since initial reports that Bongino might resign, but he remained in his post as of Monday. The addition of a second deputy director is a notable structural change at the bureau and comes as the administration emphasizes a law-and-order agenda.
Bailey's move also signals greater federal-state coordination on criminal justice priorities, according to statements from administration officials. His tenure as Missouri attorney general included high-profile enforcement actions and litigation that drew national attention, and those experiences were cited by supporters as qualifications for the new role.
The FBI has not provided details on how responsibilities will be divided between the two deputy directors, nor has the agency released a public organizational chart reflecting the change. The bureau's leadership structure and the internal dynamics surrounding sensitive investigative materials are likely to draw attention from members of Congress and outside stakeholders as the new leadership team assumes its duties.