[FBI Director Chris Wray Announces Resignation
FBI Director Chris Wray announced on Wednesday that he will resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s administration. The news has sparked a range of reactions from officials, lawmakers, and others.
Senator Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judicial Committee, praised Wray, saying the FBI “will soon embark on a perilous new era with serious questions about its future.” Natalie Bara, President of the FBI Agents Association, thanked Wray for his “support for Special Agents, his leadership in the Bureau, and his service to his country.”
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that Wray stepping aside was “probably the best decision,” but said some of Trump’s frustration with the FBI wasn’t Wray’s fault. “I think the problem that director Wray had was he wasn’t his own best spokesman, and I think what people were looking for was accountability for the misdeeds of the leadership and we didn’t see a lot of that,” he said.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland praised Wray, saying under his “principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” He added, “He has my gratitude, the gratitude of the FBI agents and employees whose respect and admiration he has earned, and the gratitude of the American people.”
Senator Kevin Cramer called Wray’s decision to step down before the start of the Trump administration “noble,” and expressed hope that Kash Patel would be confirmed as the next director of the agency. Democratic Senator Peter Welch regretted Wray’s decision, saying that it was “really regrettable” and that he felt it was a response to pressure and cut short his 10-year term. Senator Chuck Grassley, incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Wray’s resignation is “good for the country” and criticized what he called Wray’s “political weaponization” of the agency.
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