FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Resigns
Bailey cites family reasons for departure from his newly created role within the bureau.
Andrew Bailey, the FBI's co-Deputy Director, is resigning from the bureau to return to his family in Missouri, he announced on social media. Bailey expressed pride in the accomplishments during his tenure and confidence in FBI Director Kash Patel's ongoing reform efforts.
Bailey previously served as the attorney general of Missouri before joining the FBI last year. The co-deputy director position was established for the first time in the bureau's history. Bailey initially served alongside Dan Bongino, who has since resigned, and was then partnered with Christopher Raia.
FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged Bailey's service in a social media post, stating that Bailey helped "return the FBI to its core mission and fulfill President Trump's promise to make America safe again." Bailey was involved in election integrity investigations, including a visit to the Fulton County, Georgia, election office related to the 2020 election documents.
During his time as Missouri's attorney general, Bailey led efforts that resulted in a consent decree limiting social media companies' ability to censor speech. He also filed lawsuits against the Biden administration concerning issues such as transgender athletes and immigration. Additionally, he requested documents from the Justice Department pertaining to investigations into former President Donald Trump.
Sources indicated that the co-deputy director role was sometimes ill-defined, and it remains unclear if Raia will serve as the sole second-in-command at the agency following Bailey's departure.