President Trump on Monday nominated Brian Driscoll to serve as acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), one of his first moves on Inauguration Day.
Driscoll became a special agent in 2007, according to the FBI's website. He has worked in the FBI's New York field office and on the FBI's SWAT team.
The White House's announcement comes shortly after Acting FBI Director Paul Abbate resigned on Monday, reportedly minutes before President Trump was sworn into office. Christopher Wray resigned from the agency on Sunday, and Abate served as acting director for just one day.
“When the director asked me to stay on for a while past my duty date, I did so to ensure continuity and the best possible transition for the FBI. With new leadership in place, I served as his deputy for almost four years. Now I am leaving the FBI,'' Abate said in an email obtained by The New York Times on Monday. “I have full confidence in you and your team's ability to continue to carry out our mission to protect the American people and defend the Constitution.”
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Brian Driscoll has been appointed acting FBI director, the White House said. (Getty Images/FBI)
Last week, then-FBI Director Wray appointed Driscoll as special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark, New Jersey, field office. In a January 14 press release, the bureau said Driscoll “most recently served as commander of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and tactical division chief for the Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG).” .
“In March 2011, Mr. Driscoll was selected to be the FBI's HRT operator,” the press release states. “Ultimately, he became the leader of the HRT team, responsible for planning and implementing tactical solutions to advance the FBI's global operations.”
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Brian Driscoll joined the FBI in 2007. (FBI)
“He also strengthened the FBI's global partnerships by conducting operations and training in collaboration with foreign law enforcement and military partners.”
Driscoll's time as acting director will likely end when Kashyap “Kash” Patel is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the FBI's next director. Patel was nominated by President Trump in November, who called him an “America First fighter.”
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President Trump nominated Kash Patel to head the FBI. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“Mr. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, upholding justice, and protecting the American people,” Trump's statement said. It is written. “He played a vital role in debunking Russia, Russia, Russia disinformation and served as a champion of truth, accountability, and the Constitution.”
David Spunt and Pat Ward of Fox News and Danielle Wallace of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
