FBI Official Denies Turmoil Fueled Departure, Cites Family Needs
Andrew Bailey, outgoing FBI co-deputy director, states his decision to leave the bureau is solely driven by the need to return to Missouri and raise his four young children.
Outgoing FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey has stated that his departure from the bureau is entirely motivated by a desire to be with his family in Missouri and raise his four young children, pushing back against speculation suggesting internal turmoil influenced his decision.
"This was 100% about my need to get home and raise my four small children," Bailey told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "I love my kids."
Bailey, who announced his departure after just over a year with the FBI, directly refuted suggestions that issues within the bureau played a role in his exit. He accused some media outlets of disseminating "lies" regarding his reasons for leaving and offered a strong defense of FBI Director Kash Patel amidst scrutiny of the bureau's leadership.
"Any accusation that Director Patel has focused on anything other than fulfilling the president's promise to make America safe again are bold-faced lies," Bailey asserted. "We wake up every day and work early every morning and stay up late, oftentimes without sleep, to ensure mission accomplishment."
Patel, in a statement, acknowledged Bailey's departure to return to his family and praised his contributions to the FBI's overhaul. "Andrew's leadership at the FBI will be missed but we are grateful he answered the call to serve!" Patel stated, crediting Bailey with implementing "critical reforms."
Bailey had previously left his role as Missouri attorney general to join the FBI in 2025. When asked if the job itself contributed to the timing of his exit, Bailey reiterated that it did not, emphasizing that protecting children had been a focus in his previous role and remained a priority at the FBI.
Bailey highlighted the bureau's efforts in child protection, noting the addition of 55 agents to these efforts and an increase in victim service providers nationwide. He described the FBI's victim services program as "top notch" and stated he consistently pressed staff on fulfilling obligations to victims.
He characterized his tenure as part of a "truly historic transformation" of federal law enforcement under President Donald Trump and Patel. Bailey credited the administration's initiatives, such as homeland security task forces and the designation of Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, with aiding law enforcement's mission. He also noted an increase in collaboration with state, tribal, and local officers on FBI task forces.
According to Bailey, the FBI has seen a significant reduction in homicides, arrests of violent offenders, and the identification and rescue of child victims, which he presented as evidence of the administration's effective approach.
Bailey also cited the seizure of 3,258 kilograms of fentanyl and the arrest of over 4,200 members of foreign terrorist organizations, along with the identification of 11,000 child victims. He also noted the FBI's work in capturing all ten members of a most-wanted fugitive's list.
Addressing public perception of the FBI, Bailey described the agency's vast scale, with approximately 38,000 employees and 11,000 armed agents responsible for both criminal investigations and national security. He stated that leadership had prioritized moving resources from headquarters to field offices to enhance impact.
Bailey explained that over 1,500 positions had been relocated from headquarters to field offices, and that streamlined approval processes allowed agents to pursue leads more rapidly. He also pointed to the FBI processing over 1.8 million DNA samples and eliminating its backlog for the first time in its history.
Regarding political considerations, Bailey maintained that protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution were the sole driving factors. He did not directly address whether he had personally witnessed politics influencing specific investigations or personnel decisions.
Bailey suggested that criticism of Patel's approach stemmed from resistance to change within the bureau and alleged that the FBI had been previously "weaponized" against Trump. He stated Patel's aim was to return the FBI to its core mission.
Looking ahead, Bailey expressed his intention to potentially return to public service in the future, but emphasized his immediate focus on spending time with his children.