FBI Director Christopher Wray to step down before Trump takes office
FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee on the January 6th insurrection, in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. on March 2, 2021. (AFP Photo)
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Wednesday that he will resign in January, ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“After weeks of careful thought, I’ve decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,” Wray said in remarks to FBI employees, which were released by the bureau.
Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, had three years remaining in his 10-year term. However, his relationship with the president-elect has soured, particularly over the FBI’s 2022 raid on Trump’s Florida home to retrieve classified documents. Trump, in an interview with Meet the Press, expressed displeasure with Wray, saying, “He invaded my home.”
Trump nominates Patel as FBI chief
Trump has nominated Kash Patel, a loyal supporter, to replace Wray. Patel, a former advisor and Pentagon official, is known for his staunch defense of Trump and his belief in the so-called “deep state” working against the president.
In his resignation statement, Wray emphasized his commitment to the FBI’s core values, stating that stepping down would help the bureau avoid being dragged “deeper into the fray.”
Trump praised Patel in his announcement, calling him a “brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter” with a career dedicated to exposing corruption and defending justice.
Patel, the son of Indian immigrants, held various high-level positions during Trump’s first term, including serving as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary.
