President-elect Trump on Wednesday celebrated the planned resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray, calling it “a great day for America” and insisting it will lead to needed changes at the bureau.
President Trump: “Christopher Wray's resignation is a great day for America because it brings an end to the weaponization of the organization known as the United States Office of Fraud.'' Posted In true social. “We don't know what happened to him. We will now restore the rule of law for all Americans.”
President Trump criticized Wray over an FBI investigation into his Mar-a-Lago mansion in August 2022, amid an investigation into his handling of classified materials after leaving office. He also accused the office of “unlawfully impeaching and indicting me,” though members of Congress have impeached Trump twice and prosecutors in New York, Georgia and the Justice Department have indicted him in recent years.
The president-elect emphasized that Kash Patel has been appointed director of the department, saying, “I am committed to ensuring that law, order and justice are restored to our country, and soon.”
“As everyone knows, I have a lot of respect for the FBI rank-and-file, and they have a lot of respect for me. They want to see these changes through, just as I do. But more importantly, the American people demand a strong but fair justice system,” Trump wrote. “We want the FBI back, and it will happen now. We look forward to Kash Patel's confirmation so we can begin the process of making the FBI great again.”
Wray announced during a town hall meeting early Wednesday that he intends to resign before President Trump returns to the White House on January 20th.
“My goal is to remain focused on our mission, the essential work we do every day for the American people, while avoiding, in my view, dragging the office deeper into the fray. , is the best way to reinforce the values and principles that are so important to the way we work,” said Ray.
President Trump nominated Patel to head the FBI and signaled plans to fire Wray, who he named as director of the Bureau of Investigation in 2017 but would otherwise not be able to complete his term until 2027.
Patel will need confirmation from the Republican-controlled Senate in the next Congress, after flipping the Senate in last month's election.
