Missouri – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is leaving his job to work for the federal government in a different capacity. Bailey has been named co-deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the Trump administration. This is a big change in his career, going from state government to national law enforcement. His resignation as attorney general will take effect on September 8.
In a statement, Bailey described the appointment as another step in a lifelong path of service.
“My life has been defined by a call to service, and I am once again answering that call, this time at the national level. But wherever I am called, Missouri is and always will be home,” he said. He expressed appreciation to President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi for what he called the privilege of helping pursue their mission to “Make America Safe Again.”
Bailey will work with Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and well-known conservative media figure, as co-deputy director. Both will work for FBI Director Kash Patel, who has been in charge of the bureau since the Trump administration appointed him. Bongino responded to the news by posting a brief welcome to Bailey, while Patel said, “Let’s get after it,” signaling an eagerness to move forward with the bureau’s agenda.
Attorney General Pam Bondi also welcomed Bailey’s appointment, praising his background and leadership.
“His leadership and commitment to country will be a tremendous asset as we work together to advance President Trump’s mission,” she said. “While we know this is undoubtedly a great loss for Missouri, it is a tremendous gain for America.”
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The move, however, comes amid internal questions about the stability of the FBI’s leadership team. Earlier this year, there were reports of tension between Bongino and department officials about how to handle information relating to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Bongino is said to have thought about quitting at one time because of the conflict. Bailey’s addition to the top ranks now raises questions about how those dynamics will unfold.
In January 2023, Bailey, a Republican, became Missouri’s 44th attorney general. During his time in office, he made it clear that he was a strong supporter of Trump and a strong supporter of conservative legal causes. His leaving left an immediate opening in Missouri. This week, Governor Mike Kehoe said that he had chosen Catherine L. Hanaway, a well-known figure in Missouri politics and law, to be the state’s next attorney general.
Bailey’s move ends his short but important stint as Missouri’s top lawyer and begins a new chapter in Washington, where he will help set the FBI’s direction during the Trump administration.
