11th December, 2024
FBI Director Christopher Wray has announced his intention to resign at the conclusion of President Joe Biden’s administration in January.
He announced this in a statement released by the FBI on Wednesday.
Wray, who still has three years left on his 10-year term, shared his decision during a town hall with FBI staff, emphasising the need to maintain the Bureau’s focus amid politically charged times.
“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 and then step down,” Wray said.
“My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day.”
He continued, “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. 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.”
CNN reports that President-elect Donald Trump has already named Kash Patel, a staunch ally and prominent MAGA figure, as his nominee to replace Wray.
Patel has expressed plans to reshape the FBI’s focus, pledging to eliminate what he calls the “Deep State” and reorient the agency’s mission.
Wray, appointed by Trump in 2017 following the controversial firing of former Director James Comey, initially enjoyed bipartisan support as a stabilizing force for the Bureau. However, his tenure became embroiled in political challenges, including overseeing investigations into Trump that led to two federal indictments against the former president.
Wray’s leadership saw the FBI undertake its largest investigation in history in response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Bureau arrested over 1,500 individuals connected to the assault, highlighting its commitment to accountability in one of the nation’s darkest chapters.
