FBI's Bongino attempts to clarify his debunked conspiracy theory in pipe-bombs case

For many on the political right, the suspect in the Capitol pipe-bombs case seemed identified weeks before official reports. Last month, conservative outlet The Blaze highlighted a so-called gait analysis, claiming a 94% match between the suspect and a former Capitol Police officer. Various far-right commentators, including some Republican lawmakers and former Trump administration officials, treated this information as credible. However, the analysis was incorrect, and the former officer had no involvement in the case.

Far-right figures had made multiple erroneous claims even before this misstep. For instance, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, a prominent media personality, warned on his podcast last fall, just before the 2024 election, of a supposed massive cover-up. He suggested that the bombs might have been planted at both Republican and Democratic headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of an inside job orchestrated by the federal government. Later, Bongino claimed the FBI already knew the bombers identity but withheld it due to this alleged internal conspiracy.

Eleven months after these statements, Bongino helped announce the arrest of a suspect, confirming that the case did not involve the internal plot he had previously described. This raises the question of how Bongino explains promoting a theory that his own agency appears to have disproven.

During a Thursday night appearance on Fox News, host Sean Hannity asked Bongino about his earlier statements. Bongino responded, You know, listen, I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions. Thats clear. And one day, Ill be back in that space, but thats not what Im paid for now.

To summarize: Bongino previously used his media platform to promote conspiratorial claims about the pipe-bombs investigation. Months later, he was appointed to a senior FBI role. Now, he seems willing to distance himself from the positions he once endorsed, prompting questions about the credibility of his public statements and the reasoning behind his federal appointment.

Author: Aiden Foster