FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Abruptly Resigns After One Year, Says He’s Returning to Missouri

Adriana Stone 0 2 min read

FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey Abruptly Resigns After One Year, Says He’s Returning to Missouri

FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey has abruptly resigned after one year on the job, according to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and MSNOW. Bailey had been overseeing election matters. The reports did not explain why he resigned, leaving the reason for the sudden departure unclear.

Last August, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel tapped then-Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to serve as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI. The appointment moved Bailey from Missouri state government into a senior role at the bureau. He now says he is returning to his family in Missouri.

Later Monday morning, Bailey thanked President Trump, Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Patel for the opportunity to serve at the FBI. He credited President Trump’s leadership and described the administration’s work as historic. Bailey said:

“I want to thank President Trump, AG Todd Blanche, and FBI Director Kash Patel for the opportunity to serve in the FBI. Under President Trump’s leadership, we have delivered historic results in our mission to Make America Safe Again.”

Bailey added:

“With great pride in what we have accomplished, I am announcing that I am stepping down to return to my family in Missouri. I am confident Director Patel will continue to reform the FBI, combat violent crime, defend the homeland, ensure strong organizational accountability, and restore public trust in this institution of excellence.”

Bailey’s statement identifies his destination, but it does not provide a separate explanation for why he is leaving now. That is consistent with the reports, which said the reason for his resignation was unclear.

Patel responded by thanking Bailey for his service and crediting him with helping advance reforms at the bureau. Patel said:

“I want to thank Andrew Bailey for his dedicated service to return the FBI to its core mission and fulfill President Trump’s promise to make America safe again.”

Patel continued:

“Although Andrew is leaving the FBI in order to return to his family in Missouri, his fantastic contribution instituting critical reforms which resulted in our historic success will live on. Andrew’s leadership at the FBI will be missed but we are grateful he answered the call to serve! Thanks Andrew for your tremendous dedication to the mission of this FBI.”

Bailey’s departure is also notable because of his record as a staunch Trump supporter. Before joining the FBI, he fought legal actions targeting President Trump and challenged prosecutors he believed were using the law against him.

In 2024, Bailey filed a lawsuit against the State of New York. He accused the state of launching an unconstitutional attack on the democratic process through its legal actions against President Trump.

His legal challenges also reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2023, Bailey filed a brief asking the court to halt Special Counsel Jack Smith’s move to circumvent the appellate court in Smith’s January 6 case against President Trump.

Bailey also took The Gateway Pundit’s First Amendment lawsuit against the Biden administration, formerly known as MO v Biden, to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Gateway Pundit’s founder and Editor-in-Chief Jim Hoft was one of the top five plaintiffs in that case.

For now, the public statements from Bailey and Patel focus on service, reform, and Bailey’s return to Missouri. Neither statement provides a fuller account of the circumstances behind the abrupt resignation.

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