FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino say they have uncovered concealed evidence related to the controversial Russiagate investigation — and assert that accountability is on the horizon.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo, both officials acknowledged widespread public frustration over years of unkept promises to hold former FBI and Justice Department officials accountable for their roles in the Crossfire Hurricane probe, which critics argue was launched against the Trump campaign on false grounds.
But understandably, Bartiromo was skeptical. “Come on, director, with all due respect, we’ve been talking about this for a long time, and I’ve been demanding accountability for many, many years,” Bartiromo said. “You mentioned [former FBI Director James] Comey, [former FBI agent Peter] Strzok and the rest. They got TV shows. They’ve got media platforms. They’re fine. There’s been no accountability.”
“It’s a fair criticism,” Patel responded. “But what I’ll tell people is we weren’t here in the FBI in the last five years when we had statutes of limitations that were still in play.” Patel, who previously served as the lead investigator into Russiagate for the House Intelligence Committee, said he and Bongino recently discovered new documents and information that had been intentionally concealed by former FBI leadership.
“We have now found material and information and people who wanted to hide it from the world since we got in these seats,” said the director. “We’re working with Congress to release these documents unredacted. That’s how you restore trust.”
Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and a long-time critic of the Russia collusion narrative, highlighted the scale and complexity of this task. “We’ve been here two months,” Bongino said. “To expect us to dig up what was an eight-year, maybe longer, politicized investigation in that time — it’s not realistic. You want this done right, or you want it done quickly?”
That said, Patel suggested that some major developments could soon be in the offing. “Just give us about a week or two,” he said when Bartiromo pressed for a timeline.
Both men stated that the former FBI leadership, including Comey, Strzok, and former Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, knowingly lied to federal courts, abused surveillance powers, and suppressed exculpatory evidence to target political opponents.
“The FBI was the most storied law enforcement institution — and it will be again very soon,” Patel said. “But first, we must have full accountability. Justice is coming.”