Christopher Wray is preparing to resign from his post as director of the FBI rather than be fired by President-elect Donald Trump, the Washington Times reported on Tuesday.
Sources inside the bureau told the outlet that Wray is leaning towards stepping down on his own terms rather than be dismissed by Trump when he takes office next month.
"He's going to be gone at the inauguration. On or before the inauguration," a source told the outlet.
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to lead the FBI in the next administration has been meeting with Republican lawmakers the past week on Capitol Hill.
Patel, who has served as the defense secretary's chief of staff and senior adviser to the National Security Council, was chosen for his stated goals of reforming the bureau following years of eroding public trust.
In 2023, NBC News cited a poll that found the public's positive view of the FBI has eroded 15% since 2018.
On Monday, incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote an 11-page letter to Wray encouraging Wray to step aside and "move on to the next chapter in your lives," adding "I therefore must express my vote of no confidence in your continued leadership of the FBI."
Deputy Director Paul Abbate is expected to become acting director and appoint an acting deputy director in the interim.
Although he was originally appointed by Trump, Wray fell out of favor with the president-elect during the Biden administration following his perceived weaponization of the bureau and the raid on Mar-a-Lago.
Wray's name has been mentioned among those Biden may offer a preemptive pardon.
The FBI did not deny the reports of Wray's intension when contacted by the outlet saying, "The FBI has repeatedly demonstrated our commitment to responding to Congressional oversight and being transparent with the American people. Director Wray and Deputy Director Abbate have taken strong actions toward achieving accountability."
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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