Sources close to current FBI Director Christopher Wray indicate that he is preparing to resign from the role on or before Inauguration Day.
According the Washington Times, which noted the sources close to Wray, he is moving quickly to resign ahead of Trump’s inauguration because he doesn’t want to get fired, according to sources inside the bureau who are familiar with the director’s thinking.
“He’s going to be gone at the inauguration. On or before the inauguration,” a source said.
Deputy Director Paul Abbate will become acting director after Wray’s departure, and appoint an acting deputy director.
Abbate’s original plan was to stay until May or June so he could help with the transition to a new FBI director, according to the report.
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, is meeting Republican senators on Capitol Hill this week.
Patel, has served as the defense secretary’s chief of staff and senior adviser to the National Security Council.
The shakeup of the current FBI leadership has been under a microscope in Congress for sometime.
Iowa Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley, who will become chairman of the Judiciary Committee next month, sent a scathing letter Monday to Wray saying he should be ousted before his 10-year term as FBI director is up — and he said Abbate should go, too.
“For the good of the country, it’s time for you and your deputy to move on to the next chapter in your lives,” Mr. Grassley wrote in the letter to Mr. Wray.
“I therefore must express my vote of no confidence in your continued leadership of the FBI.”
Grassley, a leading lawmaker advocating for the protection of whistleblowers, has repeatedly clashed with the FBI over whistleblower reports of abuse of power and other misconduct at the bureau.
The FBI responded with the following statement:
“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 in the areas mentioned in the letter and remain committed to sharing information about the continuously evolving threat environment facing our nation and the extraordinary work of the FBI.”