FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation on Wednesday during an all-hands town hall attended by thousands of FBI agents, Fox News reported.
Wray’s departure comes just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president. Trump has already nominated Kash Patel, a close ally, to lead the agency during his second term.
Christopher Wray has RESIGNED leaving the place for Kash Patelpic.twitter.com/OvmmQeKp2C
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) December 11, 2024
According to the Washington Times, Wray’s resignation was a preemptive move to avoid being fired by Trump. Wray, who was appointed during Trump’s first term, has faced mounting criticism, particularly from Republican lawmakers.
Deputy Director Paul Abbate will serve as acting director until a permanent replacement is confirmed, with an acting deputy director to be appointed soon.
Wray, a former prosecutor, took over the FBI in 2017 after James Comey’s controversial firing. His tenure became increasingly fraught, especially after the FBI’s 2022 raid of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
The raid, conducted as part of a classified documents investigation by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice, sparked outrage among Trump’s supporters and the former president himself.
Trump, who was not present during the raid, labeled the case a politically motivated attack. The investigation was later dismissed by federal Judge Aileen Cannon.
Trump has consistently defended his actions, arguing that the Presidential Records Act permits presidents to retain documents upon leaving office.
He has also pointed to a perceived double standard in the handling of classified materials, noting that Biden was not prosecuted for retaining sensitive documents at multiple locations, including his garage. Unlike a president, Biden’s prior roles as a senator and vice president are not covered by the Act.
Earlier this week, Senator Chuck Grassley expressed his dissatisfaction with Wray’s leadership, stating in a letter that he had “no confidence” in Wray or his deputy, Paul Abbate.
Grassley wrote, “For the good of the country, it’s time for you and your deputy to move on to the next chapter in your lives.” He added, “President-elect Trump has already announced his intention to nominate a candidate to replace you, and the Senate will carefully consider that choice.”
Grassley also criticized the FBI’s handling of politically sensitive cases, including the Mar-a-Lago raid. “President Trump has been subjected to a continuing double standard,” Grassley wrote, citing the FBI’s inaction on allegations contained in an FD-1023 report regarding President Biden while aggressively pursuing Trump.
He further compared the Mar-a-Lago raid to the FBI’s treatment of Hillary Clinton, who faced scrutiny for using a private email server for classified communications. “No such raid took place at Hillary Clinton’s premises, even though she and her staff mishandled highly classified information,” Grassley remarked.
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to succeed Wray, is expected to have a smoother path to confirmation. Patel has garnered strong support from Senate Republicans and is viewed as a reform-minded candidate intent on reshaping the FBI’s leadership. Confirmation hearings are anticipated to begin shortly after Trump’s inauguration.