By Allan Lengel
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray essentially had two options: Resign or wait until President Donald Trump fired him.
On Wednesday, Wray decided to resign at the end of the Biden administration, sidestepping what might have been political theater that would be of little value to the FBI or to Wray himself. Trump indicated he’s nominating Kash Patel to take Wray’s place.
Wray was appointed by Trump in 2017 to replace James Comey who he fired.
Wray is in his seventh year of a 10-year term. The 10-year term was meant to span more than one administration and was designed to avoid politicizing the FBI. With Trump, that concept has not been embraced.
The Washington Post reports:
“Wray announced his plans at a town hall with the FBI workforce on Wednesday afternoon, telling his employees that while it was a hard decision to cut his term short, he believed it was the best one for the bureau. It was an emotional meeting, according to an FBI official, and Wray’s announcement was met with a long standing ovation from his staff. After the town hall, Wray shook hands with many of the FBI employees in the room.”
“’My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day. 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,’ Wray said, according to excerpts released by the FBI.”
“It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me,” he continued. “I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.”
