Former Homeland Security Secretary John Johnson suggested Thursday that President-elect Trump should try to keep current FBI Director Christopher Wray in office for the rest of his term, following the alleged New Year's Day terrorist attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. .
“It feels like there's a new security threat environment,” Johnson said on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.” mention the attack In addition to killing more than a dozen people in New Orleans, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing the driver and injuring others.
“Inauguration Day is approaching,” Johnson told MSNBC's Jonathan Lemire. “I heard this morning that President-elect Trump is planning a rally before the inauguration, and of course after. [you] The Super Bowl is a few weeks away, and that means something to me: [the] The next president should consider asking current FBI Director Chris Wray to remain in office rather than resign on January 20th. ”
“Go ahead with the inauguration and the Super Bowl. That in itself is a huge security environment,” he added.
Mr. Wray announced in mid-December that he planned to resign from the FBI when Mr. Biden leaves office, and Mr. Trump replaced Mr. Wray with Kash Patel, one of the president-elect's most controversial appointments. I'm planning something.
It's unclear how long Patel's confirmation will take or whether some Republicans will block his path. Patel has met with a number of Republican senators, but no date has been set for a Senate hearing. If Mr. Wray leaves with Mr. Biden, Mr. Trump would likely have to appoint a new director on an interim basis.
William Webster, the only person to lead both the FBI and CIA, is among the voices warning against Patel and Trump's nominee for intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, serving in such senior roles. He is part of a chorus that says both positions “need complete independence from political influence.” ”
Johnson said now is “not the time to see the FBI director leave in 18 days.”
“Right now is not the time to have that kind of transition where the manager who's been there for seven years is leaving and a new manager is coming in and there's orientation and briefings and things like that,” Johnson later added. .
The Hill has reached out to Trump's transition team for comment.
