Bailey, who served in an unusual dual-deputy arrangement, had a strained relationship with Director Kash Patel

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey stands after taking the oath of office at the governor's office in Jefferson City, Missouri, on Sept. 1. [AP]
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey stands after taking the oath of office at the governor's office in Jefferson City, Missouri, on Sept. 1. [AP]

The FBI's second-in-command has stepped down following a prolonged rift with the bureau's director.

Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announced his resignation Monday (local time) on social media platform X, formerly Twitter — roughly a year after he was nominated to the post in August last year.

Bailey had a poor relationship with Director Kash Patel, and Patel appeared to be sidelining him, The New York Times reported.

The FBI has traditionally operated with a single career deputy director supporting the presidentially appointed director and managing the organization. But when Patel took office last year alongside Dan Bongino — both right-wing media figures with little FBI experience — Missouri Attorney General Bailey was nominated as a second deputy, creating an unusual dual-deputy arrangement.

Bongino stepped down from the post in January. He had clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, which carries allegations of involvement by President Donald Trump, and that conflict also soured his relationship with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who was close to Bondi.

Patel moved to check Bailey's influence by installing Christopher Raia, a long-serving FBI veteran, in Bongino's former position.

Since taking office, Patel has pushed out several senior FBI officials, drawing accusations of political retaliation, and has carried out large-scale staff reductions.

Reports have also emerged that Patel frequently drinks heavily, causing morning meetings to be delayed, and his use of an FBI jet for personal dates drew public criticism. The conduct has raised questions about whether the FBI director can respond adequately at a time when the threat of Iranian terrorism has intensified following the United States' entry into war against Iran.


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