FBI Director Chris Wray to resign at the end of the Biden administration, making way for Trump's choice
Agencies
12/12/2024
Chris Wray, will resign at the end of President Joe Biden's administration after it became clear he would be forced out by US President-elect Donald Trump. - AP Image
Chris Wray, will resign at the end of President Joe Biden's administration after it became clear he would be forced out by US President-elect Donald Trump. - AP Image
WASHINGTON: The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Chris Wray, will resign at the end of the administration of US President Joe Biden, according to the agency's statement on Wednesday.
Wray made this decision after it became increasingly clear that he would be forced out by US President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump, who originally appointed Wray after firing the previous FBI Director, has announced he will nominate Kash Patel for the position, although Wray still has three years left on his 10-year term.
Patel is now meeting with senators to seek support for next year's confirmation vote.
According to CNN sources, Wray has been considering whether to resign, given Trump's desire to replace him and want to ensure an orderly transition.
Still, some in the FBI fear that Wray's resignation will make Trump accustomed to frequently replacing FBI directors he doesn't like, even though the position is supposed to be free of political influence and survive beyond administration.
Wray took over the agency after Trump fired James Comey, who oversaw an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Wray began his career after Comey, who also investigated Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, left the agency in May 2017.
As the new director, Wray was initially seen by many lawmakers as a solid choice for stabilizing the FBI.
However, he ultimately accepted the same fate as Comey after leading the FBI conducting investigations against Trump, including two federal cases against the former US President.
Trump in particular was unhappy with the search by the FBI at the Mar-a-Lago resort in August 2022 during an investigation into alleged mishandling of classified documents.
This week, Trump stated on NBC's Meet the Press show that he was not "happy" with Wray.
"He broke into my house," Trump said. "He broke into Mar-a-Lago."
Wray made the announcement during a meeting at FBI headquarters, here.
After finishing speaking, guests attending the meeting gave thunderous applause and some were seen crying, according to sources present.
"After weeks of deep deliberation, I have decided that the best move for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then resign.
"My goal is to stay focused on our mission – the invaluable work you do every day on behalf of the American people," Wray said in his speech.
"In my view, this is the best way to prevent the bureau from falling further into the political struggle while reinforcing the values and principles that are important to the way we work."
"I will say this even though it should be clear - this is not an easy decision for me. I love this place, I love our mission and I love our people — but my focus, and always will be, is on what's best for the FBI," Wray added.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Wray's resignation was "a great day for America because it will end the U.S. Department of Injustice Control. I don't know what has happened to her. Now we will restore the rule of law to all Americans."
"I am looking forward to a smooth transition. I am ready to serve the American people on day one," Patel said in a statement on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Senator Josh Hawley, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, called Wray's resignation announcement "a very good development."
"He's the worst FBI director in American history, he needs to go," said Hawley, a Republican from Missouri who accused Wray of "violating the Constitution" during his tenure.
"This should not be partisan. He's a Republican, but he's just a bad director."
Speaking on CNN, Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton voiced concern over Trump's move to push Wray out.
"Trump wants to politicize the FBI, return it to the days of J. Edgar Hoover, where the FBI had its own agenda that was completely unfounded by the law, where the FBI became a tool of the state to oppress the American people, not to enforce the law for all," said Moulton, a Democrat.
"This is very dangerous. And the decision made by Chris Wray to resign is one that is being considered by hundreds of thousands of Federal employees across Washington and across the country." – Agency
