Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino took aim at Barack Obama last week over comments the former president made during an appearance on a late-night program in which he said the Justice Department shouldn’t be used by the White House to target political enemies.
In an appearance with Stephen Colbert, Obama – who was still president when his FBI and Justice Department launched a probe into then-GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump over claims he was allied with Russia – said, “We can’t … have a situation in which whoever is in charge of the government starts using that to go after their political enemies.”
Obama emphasized that the White House should not press the Attorney General on prosecutions and suggested that these ideas may need to be officially codified into federal law.
Bongino, who returned to his popular podcast after spending a year as the No. 2 at the FBI, couldn’t let Obama’s hypocrisy go unaddressed.
“You know, I know things too, Mr. President, and so do you. Not pretending I was at your level, you were the president, I was just the deputy director of the FBI, but it’s not a small thing. And I’m not letting you get away with this, no chance,” Bongino said.
Bongino has previously discussed what he describes as “Russiagate” materials and has claimed that documents discovered during his time at the FBI could shed light on what he calls the “weaponization” of government institutions.
His comments come after he recently said he feared for his safety if Democrats regain control of Congress, adding to the intensity of his public statements.
Bongino served in the Secret Service’s Presidential Protective Division during Obama’s presidency and later became a vocal critic of the administration after entering politics and media.
During his time in protective service, Bongino had spoken positively about Obama and his family. However, his relationship with the former president’s legacy shifted significantly in the years that followed.
His tenure as FBI Co-Deputy Director from March 2025 to January 2026 drew mixed reactions.
Supporters credited him with advancing certain investigations, while critics described his leadership as contentious and marked by internal conflicts.
Reports at the time described disagreements between Bongino and other senior officials, including disputes over investigative priorities and management style.
Bongino cited a desire to return to his family and focus on his media career when he announced his resignation.
He later told Fox host Sean Hannity that he informed Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel, before taking his deputy director post he only wanted to stay on for about a year.
President Donald Trump praised Bongino following his departure, suggesting he would have a greater impact through his podcast and public platform than within the FBI.
The exchange highlights ongoing political tensions surrounding investigations into the 2016 election and broader debates over the role of government authority in law enforcement.
In his interview with Hannity, Bongino also said he was “proud” of his work at the bureau but legitimately “scared” that a future Democratic regime could target him because of the work that he and FBI Director Kash Patel began to clean up the agency.
“I will never be the same, and I’m being serious as a stroke right now. I’m scared, man. I know what I did, and I’m proud of my work, and I’m proud of what Kash and I accomplished in the past year…I know what we did, and I know what’s coming, I know what I started [and] laid out,” Bongino said.