Senior FBI Officials Granted Unprecedented Security Waivers
The second-in-command at the Federal Bureau of Investigation was permitted to bypass crucial security vetting procedures that would normally grant access to America's most classified secrets, according to internal sources. FBI Director Kash Patel authorised exceptional waivers that enabled his deputy, Dan Bongino, along with two other recent senior FBI appointments, to avoid the standard polygraph examinations typically mandatory for officials at this level.
Multiple insiders revealed to investigative outlet ProPublica that these extraordinary exemptions from standard security protocols have raised serious concerns within intelligence circles. While the publication couldn't definitively establish whether Bongino eventually underwent polygraph testing, the existence of a formal waiver strongly suggests the deputy director might not have successfully completed the assessment.
Controversy Surrounds Security Protocol Exemptions
It's important to note that polygraph examinations aren't conventionally graded on a simple pass-or-fail basis, with results sometimes proving inconclusive. However, the FBI's own stringent eligibility guidelines explicitly state that all personnel must obtain top secret clearance to work within the department, specifying that preliminary employment requirements include undergoing a polygraph examination.
The FBI initially declined to respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment regarding these allegations. However, FBI spokesman Ben Williamson provided ProPublica with a robust defence, stating: 'The FBI follows all laws and procedures on personnel security measures, and any implication otherwise is false.'
Williamson further elaborated that 'while the FBI does not comment on confidential security information, particularly in matters of personnel, this article is riddled with falsehoods', accusing the report of misrepresenting polygraph protocol, inaccurately portraying FBI security measures, and making multiple false claims about FBI employees.
Interestingly, Williamson later suggested that the three senior officials were 'not required' to complete lie detector tests because their roles represented political appointments.
National Security Implications
The security waiver granted to Bongino carries significant national security implications given his substantial responsibilities. As deputy director, Bongino oversees numerous critical agency functions, including day-to-day operations and sensitive investigative activities.
He additionally coordinates the bureau's extensive network of over 50 field offices and maintains access to the President's Daily Briefing - the highly classified intelligence assessment compiled daily for the commander-in-chief. This document typically contains sensitive intelligence from both the CIA and National Security Agency, making Bongino's proximity to such secrets particularly concerning for some security insiders.
Four separate sources familiar with FBI security procedures described Bongino's ascent to the bureau's upper echelons without undergoing standard polygraph assessment as 'unprecedented' in modern FBI history.
Bongino had no prior FBI experience before his presidential appointment to the deputy director role, though the former Fox News contributor and podcast host did serve with the New York Police Department before joining the US Secret Service.
The deputy director has himself expressed scepticism about federal law enforcement institutions, urging his X followers as recently as September 2024: 'Trust absolutely nothing emanating from the DOJ or FBI that even remotely whiffs of politics.'
In a February episode of his show, Bongino also suggested that former President Trump should 'ignore' court orders challenging presidential authority over federal spending.
Earlier this year, Bongino faced allegations of being responsible for high-profile leaks within the agency, with Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly confronting him about these claims during the summer.
The FBI's leadership structure saw reinforcement in August when former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey received appointment by Trump to serve as co-deputy director alongside Bongino. This move sparked speculation that Bongino's influence within the administration might be diminishing, though the former Secret Service agent continues in his FBI role.
