WASHINGTON — FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey announced his resignation on Monday, departing the nation’s premier law enforcement agency after slightly more than a year in the role.
Bailey, a Republican ally of President Donald Trump who vacated his position as Missouri attorney general to join the FBI, said he was stepping away to return to his family.
A Controversial Tenure
Serving under FBI Director Kash Patel, Bailey played a key role in overseeing election-related investigations. He was present earlier this year when agents seized 2020 election ballots from Georgia — an operation that drew significant scrutiny.
In a social media statement, Bailey expressed confidence in the bureau’s leadership moving forward.
“I am confident Director Patel will continue to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, ensure strong organizational accountability, and restore public trust in this institution of excellence,” Bailey wrote.
Breaking With Tradition
The deputy director’s position, which oversees day-to-day law enforcement operations, has historically been apolitical and filled by career FBI officials. However, Trump has installed political allies in the role as part of his broader effort to reshape the agency to align with his agenda.
Bailey initially served as co-deputy director alongside Dan Bongino, a former US Secret Service agent and conservative podcaster who left the FBI in January. More recently, Christopher Raia, a veteran FBI official, served as part of a three-person leadership team alongside Bailey and Patel.
Context of Departure
Bailey’s arrival at the FBI followed a series of high-profile missteps by Patel, including botched handling of investigative files related to the late sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Those errors created political complications for the Trump administration and generated internal tension at the Justice Department.
The resignation comes approximately five weeks before US midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. The Trump administration has mobilized federal law enforcement agencies to investigate voting by non-US citizens.
During his tenure, Bailey helped manage the administration’s investigations into election issues. The FBI has scrutinized election records from several states but has not produced evidence substantiating Trump’s false claims that widespread voter fraud led to his electoral defeat in 2020.
