FBI Director Chris Wray to resign before Trump takes office
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Christopher Wray appears before the House Judiciary Committee on July 24. Photo: Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images
FBI Director Chris Wray announced Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Biden's term, the FBI confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: Wray was appointed by President-elect Trump in 2017 for the typical 10-year term. However, in recent years he has come under intense criticism from Trump and his allies.
- Last month, Trump announced his intent to appoint hardline loyalist Kash Patel to replace Wray.
The big picture: Wray told FBI staffers during a townhall Wednesday that the decision to step down was "not easy," but that he had chosen to do so to "avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray."
- His departure, Wray said, would "keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you're doing on behalf of the American people every day."
State of play: Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly criticized Wray for his handling of issues relating to both the president-elect and Biden.
- Last year, House Republicans threatened to hold Wray in contempt of Congress over access to a 2020 document purportedly containing allegations about the Biden family — though they ultimately backed away from the effort.
- In July, Trump called on Wray to resign from his post for allegedly lying about Biden's mental competency.
- During an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday, Trump said he was not "thrilled" with Wray, who he said had "invaded" his home — a reference to the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents.
What they're saying: Trump reacted jubilantly to the news Wednesday, writing in a Truth Social post that Wray's resignation would be "a great day for America."
- "Kash Patel is the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency's History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again," Trump added.
What's next: If Patel is confirmed as Wray's replacement, it will be an affront to the intelligence community.
- Patel, who served in Trump's National Security Council during his first term, has echoed Trump's calls to clean out the so-called "Deep State" and outlined drastic changes to the FBI.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details and context throughout.
