FBI deputy director Andrew Bailey steps down from post
Andrew Bailey, a Federal Bureau of Investigation deputy director who oversaw election-related probes, announced Monday he is leaving the federal bureau investigation leadership post about a year into the role, saying he plans to return to his family in Missouri.
Bailey made the announcement on social platform X, thanking President Donald Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel “for the opportunity to serve.” His exit comes amid an ongoing shake-up at the bureau and follows his oversight of some Trump election-related investigations, including a probe tied to 2020 ballots in Georgia. Coverage across True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries continues to track high-stakes federal cases that intersect with public trust.
Key Takeaways
- Bailey said he is stepping down to return to his family in Missouri roughly a year after taking the FBI post.
- He previously served as Missouri attorney general and joined as co-deputy director with Dan Bongino in September 2025.
- Since Bongino left in January, Bailey has served alongside Christopher Raia; it is unclear if another co-deputy will be named.
- Patel publicly thanked Bailey for reforms and “dedicated service” as the bureau faces mass career-agent departures.
- A New York Times report, cited by The Guardian, indicated Bailey and Raia had a contentious relationship with Patel.
Why did Andrew Bailey leave the FBI?
In his X post, Bailey framed the move as a family decision. “With great pride in what we have accomplished, I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri,” he wrote, according to WAVY.com reporting via The Hill.
He also voiced confidence that Patel would “continue to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, ensure strong organizational accountability, and restore public trust.” Patel replied on X that Bailey’s reforms and leadership would be missed, while praising his role in returning the FBI to its “core mission.”
Though Bailey cited family, The Guardian noted a New York Times report indicating that Bailey and Raia had a somewhat contentious relationship with Patel and went long stretches without speaking to each other.
What was Bailey’s role in election investigations?
As deputy director, Bailey oversaw some of Trump’s election-related investigations, including one related to 2020 ballots in Georgia. In January 2026 he was present when FBI agents executed a search warrant at a Fulton County election office in Union City, Georgia, and seized ballots and other materials from the 2020 presidential election.
MS Now was first to report his resignation. When asked for comment, the FBI referred The Guardian to Bailey’s social media announcement. The Hill said it had reached out to the White House and Justice Department for comment.
Who else has left FBI leadership recently?
Bailey, a hardline conservative and former Missouri attorney general for more than two years, began the unusual co-deputy director role with Dan Bongino in September 2025. Bongino, a former New York City police officer and Secret Service agent with no formal FBI experience before the appointment, left in January after less than a year and returned to his radio show.
Bailey then served as co-deputy with Christopher Raia, a former FBI special agent and New York field office official. It remains unclear whether Trump plans to pick another deputy to serve alongside Raia. Under Patel’s leadership, the FBI has seen mass departures of career agents—some forced out over perceived political bias, others leaving voluntarily amid fears of retribution or disagreement with orders.