FBI Director Christopher Wray has announced his intention to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January.
He made this announcement during a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, stating that he had carefully considered this decision over several weeks.
The big picture: Wray’s announcement comes shortly after President-elect Donald Trump revealed his plan to nominate Kash Patel, a loyalist, for the FBI director position in his upcoming administration.
- This move was not unexpected, given Trump’s prior selection of Patel and his history of expressing dissatisfaction with Wray.
Driving the news: Wray was initially appointed by Trump and began his 10-year term as FBI director in 2017, following the dismissal of then-FBI Director James Comey.
- Trump had publicly expressed displeasure with Wray on multiple occasions, particularly after Wray’s congressional testimony in September.
- Despite these tensions, Wray generally maintained a low-key approach and seldom engaged in public confrontations with the White House.
