FBI co-deputy director Andrew Bailey announced Monday that he is stepping down to return to his family in Missouri. He praised Director Kash Patel in his statement, while several US media outlets reported the two had a strained relationship.
CBS reported Patel excluded Bailey from meetings he was expected to attend after Bailey repeatedly criticized FBI practices as unconstitutional. Other US outlets reported Bailey had been brought in as a potential successor to Patel amid speculation that Patel could lose his post.
Under President Donald Trump, the FBI deputy director role had been unusually shared by two people. Bailey initially served alongside Dan Bongino; after Bongino announced his resignation at the end of last year, Christopher Raia took over that vacancy. Bailey previously served as Missouri attorney general.
