"FBI arrests 400 child sex offenders and human traffickers in one month, rescues 115 children — investigating former FBI Director James Comey over social media post suggesting Trump assassination."

On May 18, 2025, on the Fox News Sunday program Sunday Morning Futures, host Maria Bartiromo conducted an exclusive interview with FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. This was the first joint public interview by the bureau’s top leadership, addressing the politicization of the FBI, border crime, the January 6 Capitol events, and child sex trafficking.

James Comey’s Social Media Post Sparks Assassination Allegations

The interview began with controversy surrounding former FBI Director James Comey. Comey posted a photo of seashells arranged to read “8647” on a beach, captioning it as a “cool shell formation” found during a walk. In American slang, the number “86” can mean “to eliminate,” and Donald Trump is the 47th president. The post was widely interpreted as a call for Trump’s assassination.

Amid growing criticism, Comey deleted the post, claiming he did not know the meaning of “86.” He stated he opposes violence. The U.S. Secret Service interviewed him, and multiple federal investigations are now underway.

FBI Reform and the Fight for Political Neutrality

Director Kash Patel confirmed that an active investigation is underway. He stated that the FBI is undergoing internal reform and that transparency and responsiveness are being prioritized to rebuild public trust. “Our priorities are clear,” said Patel. “Eliminate violent crime, defend the homeland, enforce internal accountability, and uphold constitutional oversight by Congress.”He blamed former FBI officials—James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, and James Baker—for turning the agency into a political weapon.Deputy Director Dan Bongino added, “Weak leadership chose political expediency. They used the FBI as a tool to attack President Trump, aligned with the media.”

Transparency Through Document Release

The FBI is now submitting unredacted internal documents related to Crossfire Hurricane, the January 6 incident, and the Richmond memo to Congress. “We want the public to read these materials themselves. That’s how we rebuild trust,” said Patel.

Bongino addressed criticism that accountability is taking too long: “If we rush, we risk repeating past failures. We will do this thoroughly and correctly.” Patel revealed they’ve discovered new documents that had previously been concealed.

Reorganization of Personnel and Relocation from Hoover Building

The FBI is decentralizing personnel from Washington, D.C. to high-crime regions across the country. “A third of our workforce is based in D.C., but crime is happening nationwide,” said Patel.

Bongino announced that the FBI plans to vacate the Hoover Building and move operations to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. “Rather than spend billions on a new facility, we’ll use existing military infrastructure,” he said.

Border Crime and Terrorist Entry Concerns

On the topic of border security, Patel revealed that over 300 known or suspected terrorists illegally entered the U.S. in 2024, with 85 coming through the northern border. He warned of involvement from adversarial governments such as the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, and Iran.

Bongino stated, “President Trump is leading a new security approach. He doesn’t want cosmetic policies—he wants real, visible changes in people’s lives.”

Delayed National Guard Deployment on January 6

Patel said that President Trump had authorized the deployment of the National Guard before the January 6 Capitol breach, but the plan was delayed due to rejections from the D.C. mayor and congressional leadership.

He added, “The documentation of those refusals has already been submitted to Congress.”

The background to this controversy involves reports that Capitol security officials, including Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger and House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving, either delayed or rejected the request for additional security. The Department of Defense was also slow to respond. These failures left the Capitol vulnerable.

Jeffrey Epstein Case: Confirmed Suicide

On the controversial death of Jeffrey Epstein, both Patel and Bongino reaffirmed that it was a suicide. “I reviewed the entire file. There’s no doubt,” said Bongino.

Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, was facing new federal charges for child sex trafficking when he died in a New York prison in 2019. His death triggered widespread conspiracy theories due to faulty surveillance and procedural failures, but the FBI maintains it was a suicide.

Steven Jensen’s Promotion and Related Controversy

Patel addressed the promotion of Steven Jensen, the FBI agent who led the initial investigation into the January 6 riot. “He stood against political pressure. His promotion was based on merit and integrity,” said Patel.

Jensen, formerly the head of the Domestic Terrorism Operations Section, played a key role in early investigations of the Capitol breach. However, critics—particularly from conservative circles—view his elevation as controversial, claiming he helped politicize the bureau’s response.

Crackdown on Child Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking

The FBI recently executed a major operation targeting child sex offenders and human traffickers, resulting in over 400 arrests and the rescue of 115 children within one month. Bongino stated, “These criminals are no longer safe. Our next targets are serious offenders among illegal aliens.”

Each year, thousands of children in the U.S. fall victim to sex crimes and trafficking. According to the Department of Justice, the average victim of child sex trafficking is between 14 and 17 years old, and many are misrepresented as adults to conceal the crime. The FBI is increasing efforts nationwide, especially against online exploitation.

Commitment to Political Neutrality

More than 1,000 FBI agents have already been relocated to field offices nationwide. Patel added, “The Hoover Building is no longer safe for our staff. We are transitioning operations to a secure and modern facility.” He concluded, “The FBI is not a political institution. We follow the law and the facts. Prosecution decisions are the responsibility of the Department of Justice.”