Official publication or press release from the Inspector General's office

FBI Director Wray Resigns Amid Jan 6 Probe; Trump Nominates Kash Patel and Pam Bondi

Dec 12, 2024, 10:55 PM

FBI Director Christopher Wray has announced his intention to resign before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Wray's resignation has prompted reactions from both political parties. President-elect Trump described Wray's departure as a 'great day for America' and stated that the 'United States Department of Injustice' would come to an end. Democrats have expressed disappointment, suggesting that Wray should have forced Trump to fire him rather than resigning, thereby easing the transition to a controversial nominee. Representative Glenn Ivey commented that by stepping down, Wray shifted the responsibility away from Trump. Republicans, including Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ted Cruz, have voiced support for Trump's prospective nominees, Kash Patel for FBI Director and Pam Bondi for the Department of Justice. Patel has stated intentions to radically transform the FBI, reduce its power, close its Washington headquarters, and replace personnel with individuals aligned with the president's agenda. Senator Rick Scott stated that "Kash is going to create transparency. There's not going to be surprises. I'm very sure Pam Bondi is going to do the same thing at the DOJ. They're going to stop the weaponization." The resignation comes amid the anticipated release of an Inspector General's report investigating the FBI's involvement in the events at the Capitol on January 6, which some suggest may have influenced Wray's decision to step down. Representative Thomas Massie commented that Wray's resignation is connected to the upcoming release of the report, stating, "For four years, I pressed for answers on this. Now the malfeasance is finally exposed."