FBI Director Chris Wray will step down from his post early next year, the bureau said on Wednesday, after Republican President-elect Donald Trump signaled his intent to fire the veteran official and replace him with firebrand Kash Patel.
Trump himself had appointed Wray, a fellow Republican, to his 10-year term in 2017, after firing his predecessor James Comey, who the then-president soured on over the FBI's investigations into alleged contacts between his 2016 campaign and Russia.
"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 told FBI employees today, the agency said in a statement.
In a statement to Reuters, Patel said he looks forward to a "smooth transition."
"I will be ready to serve the American people on day one," he said.
Trump and his hardline allies turned on Wray, and the FBI more generally, after agents conducted a court-approved search of Trump's Florida resort in 2022 to recover classified documents that he had retained after leaving office.
That sparked one of two federal prosecutions Trump faced while out of power, neither of which went to trial. Trump denied wrongdoing and described all the cases against him as politically motivated. Federal prosecutors ended their efforts after his election, citing longstanding Justice Department policy not to prosecute a sitting president.
Trump's Republican allies joined him in alleging that the FBI had become politicized, though there is no evidence that Democratic President Joe Biden interfered with its investigative processes.
"There are serious problems at the FBI. The American public knows it. They expect to see sweeping change," Republican U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty said in early December after Trump's nomination of Patel.
Throughout his term, Wray said that he followed the law and strove to impartially carry out the FBI's duties. During a 2023 hearing before a House of Representatives panel he rebuffed the idea that he was pursuing a Democratic partisan agenda, noting that he had been a lifelong Republican.
"The idea that I am biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background," Wray said.
FBI directors are appointed for 10-year terms, a measure meant to avoid the appearance of partisanship after political turnover in the White House every four years.
Wray's term was not due to expire until 2027.
As he has built out his roster of Cabinet officials over the past few weeks, Trump has assembled a team ready to carry out two of his biggest priorities: retribution against his political adversaries and a wholesale reshaping of the U.S. government.
Patel, who would need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, has never worked at the FBI and only spent three years at the Justice Department earlier in his career in the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section. If confirmed, he has pledged to shut down the FBI's headquarters building in Washington and drastically redefine the bureau's role with intelligence-gathering.
Throughout Trump's first term, Trump repeatedly mused about the idea of replacing Wray for not being forceful enough in defending him from the 2016 investigation, but former Attorney General Bill Barr resisted such efforts, Barr recounted in his book "One Damn Thing After Another."
Wray, in his address to employees on Wednesday, urged them to continue to focus on their mission to keep Americans safe.
"My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day," Wray said, according to excerpts provided by the bureau.
"In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work."
The FBI has faced increasing criticism by Trump's supporters for its various roles in investigating Trump over the years.
Some of the concerns pre-dated Wray's tenure, including several damning reports by the Justice Department's inspector general which faulted the bureau for making numerous errors in its warrant applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court during its early investigation into Trump's 2016 campaign known as "Crossfire Hurricane."
During his tenure, Wray has overseen reforms of the FBI's processes for securing FISA warrants.
The FBI during Wray's time has also played a major role in helping to investigate and arrest many of Trump's supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed bid to block Congress from certifying Biden's election victory.
More than 1,500 people were criminally charged in the attack.
Trump has pledged to grant clemency to some of the Jan. 6 defendants, though he has not provided details.
Throughout his time as FBI director, Wray has been known for his hawkish views on China, and has frequently warned that China represents the biggest national and economic security threat facing the United States.
Wray started his career at the Justice Department in 1997 as a federal prosecutor in the Atlanta-based Northern District of Georgia.
He was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2003 to lead the department's Criminal Division, where he oversaw a variety of investigations including post-9/11 efforts to combat terrorism and the Enron Task Force.
Wray also practiced law for about 17 years with the law firm King & Spalding, and he clerked for former Judge J. Michael Luttig in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit after earning his law degree from Yale Law School.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.
37 Comments
JJE
You're fired.
Biden's weaponization of the DOJ is going to be corrected and remedied.
plasticmonkey
Patel's only qualification is that he is an opportunistic sycophant.
JJE
You certain Kash isn't a lawyer and former federal prosecutor for the DOJ, who has worked in multiple government agencies?
No qualifications... sure.
plasticmonkey
Patel has never been an FBI agent and he has virtually no management experience.
He did manage to write a children's book though, one that made the king very happy.
Underworld
Sycophant.
JJE
Biden didn't weaponize the DOJ. And it was Trump who appointed Chris Wray.
He is supposed to be there for 10 years to stop political interference.
bass4funk
That’s ok, Trump could hire Mickey Mouse and the left wouldn’t like it or approve, irrelevant and doesn’t matter. Anyway, Wray is out and finally a real American patriot is in and I’m happy he will rebuild the agency, can’t have a weaponized shadow government that goes after Americans and that is political. Wray had a chance to reform the agency, he didn’t, so he needs to step aside.
bass4funk
Neither was Wray.
Oh, yes, he does.
-Public Defender: Patel began his career as a public defender, gaining experience in criminal defense and litigation.
-Federal Prosecutor: Worked as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice, prosecuting cases related to national security and international drug trafficking.
-Department of Justice (DOJ): Served as a senior counsel in the National Security Division, focusing on counterterrorism cases.
-House Intelligence Committee: Played a significant role as a staffer under Representative Devin Nunes. Patel was instrumental in investigations related to the Russia probe and was credited for drafting the controversial Nunes memo, which criticized the FBI’s handling of FISA warrants during the Trump-Russia investigation.
-National Security Council (NSC): Held roles at the NSC during the Trump administration, advising on counterterrorism and intelligence issues.
-Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense: In 2020, Patel was appointed Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, where he was involved in military and national security matters during the final months of the Trump administration.
-Author and Media Commentator: Post-government, Patel has authored books and frequently comments on political and security issues, often aligning with conservative viewpoints.
-Children’s Books: Authored books aimed at simplifying complex political topics for young audiences.
-Trump Ally and Advocate: Continues to be a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, often involved in political advocacy and fundraising.
-Media Engagement: Regularly appears on news outlets and podcasts to discuss legal and political issues.
So yeah, the guy is more than qualified. Because he was the one that broke the story about the steel dossier, so anyway, libs are angry and I’m happy. ROFL!
Which sold millions.
Blacklabel
It’s Kash money time!
see ya Mister “I gotta cut my testimony short cause the private plan is waiting to take me on vacation”
maybe now we can get an answer about how many FBI assets and informants were involved in Jan 6. It’s not zero.
Blacklabel
was Wray? Or your failed savior Robert Mueller?
plasticmonkey
He did.
What does that mean? Wray isn't American or a patriot? Or you mean not loyal enough to the king?
plasticmonkey
Nothing you listed (which is heftily exaggerated, BTW) qualifies as substantial management experience.
"Media engagement" lol
Underworld
bass4funk
So yeah, no management experience. Most managers get experience by first being a middle manager before heading up a whole department. Patel doesn't even have middle management experience.
He will be a fish out of water.
bass4funk
And he just kicked the rat out of the agency, appropriately
A man that puts his country first before politics.
Not loyal enough to the nation, no. And to his servants, the establishment. Anyway, he’s out and that’s a fantastic thing.
Nothing exaggerated
You are trying so hard, kind of like my dog trying to dig through concrete, he’s looks so cute, but I just don’t have the heart to tell him.
Well, you don’t have to approve, Trump is not asking you or the Dems. ROFL!
Blacklabel
“Patel's experience ranges from personally carrying out dangerous missions in the Middle East in an effort to bring home U.S. hostages to implementing counterterrorism strategies against America’s most-wanted terrorists.
Current and former U.S. national security officials and lawmakers say that when looking at his résumé "objectively," he is "one of the most experienced people ever to be nominated" to lead the bureau. “
Blacklabel
“During the first Trump administration, Patel served as a deputy assistant to Trump and as senior director for counterterrorism. In that role, Patel was involved in presidential missions aimed at decimating al Qaeda senior leadership and ISIS command and control. Patel was involved in the planning of the mission to take out Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, among others.
Patel also was involved in efforts to bring some of the most-wanted terrorists to the U.S. for prosecution, and worked on Trump administration efforts to return dozens of U.S. hostages back home.
Beyond his counterterrorism work, Patel was heavily involved in U.S. strategy to counter Chinese, Russian, Iranian and North Korean efforts against U.S. interests. He also worked on the implementation of multimillion-dollar sanctions against foreign adversaries.”
so I guess we can stop with the no experience nonsense?
bass4funk
He’ll do fine
Wray was as well. Yes, it’s a big job, Comey did it, Wray did and so will Patel. Looking forward! Going to be a great Christmas!!!
plasticmonkey
You've convinced me. Patel is the most qualified and patriotic nominee for FBI director ever.
Peter Neil
bass4funkToday 08:05 am JST
as they should.
but mickey mouse is ok in magaland.
that some bizarre logic.
plasticmonkey
Patel seriously jeopardized a Seal Team 6 mission by claiming to have gotten airspace clearance from the Nigerian government when he actually hadn't. Read about it.
Blacklabel
Oh so now he WAS involved in things lol you made it sound like he had no experience.
Isnt he suing the person who falsely claimed that?
wallace
Appointed by Trump.
Blacklabel
And de-appointed by Trump.
somebody gave him bad advice. It happens.
plasticmonkey
That doesn't mean he's had substantial management experience.
Because it's true.
bass4funk
Wray initiated an illegal raid on the former President, there was no threat from him nor justification for it, and downplayed the assassination on Trump, claiming that it doesn’t seem he was hit by a bullet but a shrapnel.
And fired by President Trump.
plasticmonkey
So in your mind both of them are unqualified. Thanks!
bass4funk
Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have.
I never said that, but nice try though
plasticmonkey
The normal thing to argue at this point would be a refutation or defense of Patel's screw up. Instead you resort to the usual whataboutism.
plasticmonkey
How poetic!
bass4funk
If you think this error is the equivalent of Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal or bigger than Garland going after innocent Americans or Wray going after the former President, you are so far off, he’s going to be confirmed and all the debating we do and the emotional personal vitriol you have for this guy will not change that course. Live with it and it’s a great thing. The FBI should be dismantled and rebuilt, the swamp will be coming to an end and that’s great for all Americans
Oh, yes, it was. There was zero justification for it.
Blacklabel
is it just coincidence that Wray resigns the next day after the IG confirms the FBI was spying on….Kash Patel, to then spy on Trump?
plasticmonkey
Silly.
plasticmonkey
Oooh! Another conspiracy!
Blacklabel
IG reported it as true.
isn’t everything a leftist “conspiracy” just a couple of months away from being true?
plasticmonkey
Yeah! Everything!
The deep state cannot be trusted. The only trustworthy individuals are Trump and the individuals who have absolute fealty to Him.
JJE
Patel's confirmation will start the process of Making the FBI Great Again and reversing this shambolic horror show called Biden's Department of Injustice. Expect to see more people jumping instead of being made to walk the plank.
bass4funk
To you, but it’s top priority for most Americans
What?
Understatement
True, that’s why he was elected, they tried to stop him and they failed…once again and for the final time. So, I’m happy.
bass4funk
There was zero justification for the raid. They could have worked things out, he wasn’t a threat or flight risk, but that’s all over with, Wray is out an Patel will make massive changes and that’s a good thing and needed as well.