Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino went after Rep. Thomas Massie on his show, accusing the Kentucky Republican of talking tough online while ducking chances to get briefed in person on cases he was publicly criticizing.
“I could not believe what a fraud this guy was,” Bongino said. “He is an epic-level fraud, whatever you think about this guy, I’m telling you, he is an absolute fraud.”
Bongino said the clash grew out of what he described as multiple attempts to set up in-person briefings for Massie on sensitive matters Massie had been blasting on X, formerly Twitter. Bongino claimed the congressman repeatedly declined or pushed the meetings off.
“I tried multiple times to get this guy to come over for a briefing on a case he kept bloviating about on Twitter and he didn’t do it,” Bongino added.
Dan Bongino says he saw a very different side of Thomas Massie when he was in the FBI— “I could not believe what a fraud this guy was”
“He is an epic-level fraud, whatever you think about this guy, I’m telling you, he is an absolute fraud— I tried multiple times to get this guy… pic.twitter.com/T8K6H7t5JO
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) May 18, 2026
The comments are the latest escalation in a long-running public feud between the two men that has flared around high-profile controversies, including the Jan. 6 pipe bomb investigation, questions surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and allegations of whistleblower retaliation.
Massie has pressed for more transparency on the Epstein matter and has accused elements inside the FBI of political targeting. Bongino has defended the bureau’s actions during his tenure and accused Massie of playing to the crowd instead of engaging through formal channels.
Thomas Massie had not issued a direct response to Bongino’s latest comments as of publication, though he has previously posted screenshots of communications with Bongino to rebut similar accusations.
The blowup comes as Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District GOP primary draws national attention, with Massie facing a well-funded challenge from Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein. Outside spending has poured into the race, targeting Massie’s independent voting record and turning the contest into a proxy fight over the party’s direction.
Results are expected later this evening.
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