Bongino Torches James Comey Over Messes He Left Behind at the FBI [WATCH]

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino publicly rebuked former bureau director James Comey on Saturday, stating that Comey had once again “brought shame to the FBI badge” as authorities review a controversial social media post made by Comey earlier in the week.

Comey, who was dismissed by President Donald Trump in 2017, ignited widespread backlash on Thursday after sharing an Instagram post featuring seashells arranged in the form of “86 47.”

The phrase is widely understood to mean “get rid of” the 47th president, a phrase many interpreted as a veiled reference to President Trump. The post was later deleted.

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Speaking on Fox News, President Trump condemned the message.

“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant,” Trump said on Friday.

“If you’re the FBI director, and you don’t know what that meant, that meant ‘assassination,’ and it says it loud and clear.”

@POTUS on former FBI Director James Comey’s “86 47” threat: “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant … That meant ‘assassination.’” pic.twitter.com/LfOHKfSOFa

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 16, 2025

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Comey responded in a follow-up message, stating, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” adding that it “never occurred to me.”

After massive backlash and a response from the White House and DHS, which will now result in an investigation by US @SecretService, James @Comey, the former FBI Director, has DELETED his Instagram post calling for the assassination of President Trump.

He’s now claiming he… https://t.co/oZ64hsRqzB pic.twitter.com/yKJjDgs14J

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) May 15, 2025

Bongino, who was appointed FBI Deputy Director earlier this year, rejected that explanation in a post published to X.

“Former FBI Director James Comey brought shame to the FBI badge, yet again, this past week,” Bongino wrote.

“The Director and I spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning up messes left behind by former Director Comey. And his latest actions are no exception.”

Bongino also emphasized that his responsibilities include ensuring that past misconduct is not repeated.

“As the Deputy Director of the FBI, I am charged, standing with Director Patel, with managing the most powerful law enforcement agency in the world,” he wrote.

“The Director and I are also responsible for looking at grave mistakes made by people within the FBI in the past, and ensuring they never happen again.”

He said the FBI is actively supporting the investigation into the post and stressed that the bureau plays a role in such matters.

“While the FBI does not have primary investigative responsibility for investigating threats against the POTUS, and we do not make prosecutorial decisions, we do have the ability and authority to support other federal agencies for violations of federal law,” Bongino noted.

“And we certainly have a responsibility to comment on matters involving former FBI officials, and allegations of law-breaking.”

According to officials, the U.S. Secret Service has already interviewed Comey in relation to the incident.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed separately that the agency “is in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran.”

Bongino framed the controversy as another example of the damage caused during Comey’s tenure.

“Sadly, many of those agenda items are the result of former Director Comey’s poor decision-making and atrocious leadership,” he wrote.

“And to those who doubt me, I assure you, when you see what the Director and I see from the inside, it’s even worse.”

Bongino clarified that he issued his public statement on Saturday because his upcoming interview with FOX Business anchor Maria Bartiromo had been pre-recorded earlier in the week, prior to Comey’s post.

“I’m addressing this now, rather than on our interview with Maria Bartiromo [Sunday], because we recorded that interview earlier in the week prior to the incident with Comey,” he said.

He concluded his message with a broader affirmation of his commitment to law enforcement and the bureau’s reform efforts.

“God bless America, and all those who defend Her,” Bongino wrote.

As the Deputy Director of the FBI, I am charged, standing with Director Patel, with managing the most powerful law enforcement agency in the world. The Director and I are also responsible for looking at grave mistakes made by people within the FBI in the past, and ensuring they…

— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) May 17, 2025

Bongino previously served as a New York Police Department officer and later as a U.S. Secret Service agent.

His role under Director Kash Patel is part of an ongoing initiative by the Trump administration to reform the FBI and restore public trust in the bureau’s operations.

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