Missouri Attorney General Resigns for FBI Leadership Role

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri — Andrew Bailey, the Missouri Attorney General and a Republican who has openly supported former President Donald Trump, announced his resignation from leadership roles within the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday.

This decision follows a wave of changes at the FBI under Director Kash Patel, where several senior officials, including prominent agents in major cities, have been dismissed. The Justice Department is currently requesting names of agents who took part in the investigation related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.

Bailey specified that his resignation took effect on September 8, as he assumes the role of co-director of the FBI alongside Dan Bongino. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is expected to introduce Bailey’s successor soon.

“My life is defined by a call to service, and I’m embracing that call again at the national level,” Bailey remarked in a statement.

During his over two-and-a-half-year tenure, Bailey initiated various lawsuits against former President Joe Biden’s administration, challenging policies on immigration, student loan forgiveness, environmental regulations, gun safety, and transgender rights.

He also threatened legal action against private gyms over bathroom policies and pushed for public schools to restrict drag shows. Notably, he sued the state of New York, arguing that Trump’s 2024 trial was interfering with the upcoming election by limiting information on Missouri voters.

Recently, Bailey’s office has defended anti-abortion measures against constitutional amendments that affirm the right to abortion, as approved by voters.

Earlier this year, Bailey’s office secured a $24.5 billion judgment against China related to the Covid-19 pandemic, a case initially filed by his predecessor, Eric Schmidt, who was elected to the US Senate in 2022.

Before his appointment, Bailey served as legal counsel for Republican Governor Mike Parson, who selected him to succeed Schmidt. A veteran of the Army, Bailey won a four-year term as Attorney General in November of last year.