FBI Director Christopher Wray announces retirement prior to Donald Trump taking office for second presidency

The director of the FBI, a man who led the agency through President-elect Donald Trump’s criminal investigation, as well as spearheading operations after an attempt on the Republican’s life, has resigned.

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced on Wednesday he would leave the agency by the end of January, before the completion of President Joe Biden’s term.

With his resignation, Mr Trump is now free to appoint a bureau director of his choice.

Mr Trump has previously shared his hopes to nominated Kash Patel, a former US Department of Justice prosecutor to the FBI director role.

Mr Wray, whose office has a 10-year term, has been director since August 2017. Mr Trump, who was president at that time, nominated him to the post after firing James Comey as director.

Since then, Mr Wray has drawn Mr Trump’s ire for the FBI’s role in criminal investigations of Trump for his efforts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election and for his retention of classified government documents after leaving the White House.

Those investigations led to two federal criminal prosecutions of Trump, both of which were dropped by the Department of Justice after his election in November. DOJ policy bars prosecutions of sitting US presidents.

“After weeks of careful thought, I’ve decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current Administration in January and then step down,” Mr Wray said Wednesday, according to prepared remarks released by the FBI’s press office.

“My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day.

“In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.”

Mr Trump in a social media post called Mr Wray’s planned resignation “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.”

“I just don’t know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans,” Mr Trump wrote in the Truth Social post.

“Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America.”

Mr Trump called Mr Patel “the most qualified Nominee to lead the FBI in the Agency’s History, and is committed to helping ensure that Law, Order, and Justice will be brought back to our Country again, and soon.”

- With CNBC