FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he is resigning from the FBI, ending his term three years early after President-elect Donald Trump indicated he planned to replace Wray.
The announcement, reported by the New York Times, comes after Trump revealed last month that he had nominated former intelligence aide Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist, to fill the director role.
Wray has drawn ire from Trump and his Republican allies in Congress in recent years over accusations that the bureau has been, at times, weaponized against Republicans.
The FBI’s decision, under Wray’s leadership, to execute a search warrant for classified material at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, as well as the bureau’s lack of progress on its investigation into pipe bombs found on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021, have both been subjects of Trump’s wrath.
Under Wray, the FBI has also faced accusations from Republicans of being biased against Catholics and improperly pressuring social media companies to practice censorship, two matters the FBI has disputed.
Asked about Wray’s resignation plans, the FBI said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that Wray was focused on his work.
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