In a podcast episode that aired just days before his surprise appointment as deputy director of the FBI, Dan Bongino delivered a pointed message that turned heads in Washington. The former Secret Service agent and conservative commentator used his platform to revisit the controversy surrounding the Russia investigation—directly naming Senator Adam Schiff and vowing not to let the matter fade into history.

“Why is Adam Schiff so worried?” Bongino asked during a segment of his widely followed show. “I strongly encourage you to go back and take another look at the Russia collusion hoax.”

The timing of Bongino’s remarks, coupled with his passionate tone, suggested more than just political commentary. It hinted at a deeper commitment to uncovering what he views as a dangerous misuse of power.

“I’m gonna be straight with you. I don’t wanna move on,” he said. “We had the FBI, the DOJ, foreign governments, and intelligence players fabricate a story—one that nearly disrupted international diplomacy with a nuclear adversary. That’s not a small thing.”

Bongino made it clear he believes the events that unfolded during the Russia investigation have left an unresolved stain on the nation’s political institutions. “This can never happen again. Not to a Democrat. Not to a Republican. Not to a Libertarian. Not to anyone,” he declared.

His remarks weren’t just a retrospective. They carried a tone of foreshadowing. “Listen to me—this is gonna be very important in the coming days,” he added cryptically, days before the official announcement of his FBI role.

The episode quickly gained attention online, in part because of Bongino’s unwavering focus on Schiff, the California senator who played a prominent role in congressional inquiries related to the 2016 election.

“You do not get to hijack the justice system to give a fake story the appearance of truth,” Bongino said, referencing the years-long investigation that dominated headlines and divided public opinion. “And you certainly don’t get to walk away without scrutiny.”

Schiff, for his part, has remained defiant. Recently, he issued a public response after receiving a pre-emptive presidential pardon from Joe Biden for his work on the now-disbanded Jan. 6 Committee. While he called the move “unnecessary” and “unwise,” Schiff did not reject the pardon itself.

“I continue to believe that the grant of pardons to a committee that undertook such important work to uphold the law was unnecessary,” Schiff said in a statement. “But I understand why President Biden believed it was needed, given the threats from those now ascending in law enforcement positions.”

The pardon was broad and unconditional, covering “any offenses” tied to the committee’s subject matter. Critics, however, pointed out that such language might also shield Schiff from potential scrutiny for past public statements that repeatedly linked Donald Trump to Russian operatives—allegations that were later challenged and, in many cases, debunked by federal investigations.

Other former committee members—including Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Rep. Liz Cheney—also received the same pardon. In a joint statement, they insisted the action was not an admission of guilt, but a safeguard.

“These are extraordinary circumstances,” they said. “We were pardoned not for breaking the law but for upholding it.”

The statement emphasized their belief that they acted in the nation’s best interest, seeking to prevent what they described as an organized effort to overturn the 2020 election.

But to Bongino and those who share his concerns, questions still remain.

“What happened then, and how it happened, can’t be dismissed as old news,” Bongino said. “It’s not about left or right—it’s about truth. And if we don’t face it, we’re at risk of repeating it.”

Now in a new role with real power, Bongino’s comments suggest that the past may still have a long shadow to cast on the future. What comes next remains unclear—but for some, the chapter is far from closed.