FBI director Christopher Wray and Donald Trump’s team are planning for the possibility of the newly elected President replacing Wray during the new administration, three people familiar with the matter told NBC News.
One person being considered for Wray’s position is a Trump adviser Kas Patelwho, according to two other sources, is also considered leader of the CIA.
Wray, whom Trump appointed to a 10-year term in 2017, enjoys leading the FBI and planned to serve out his term, a source said. But according to a separate source, he is also preparing for the possibility that Trump will try to replace him.
All sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive discussions.
Replacement may mean no shooting. Wray could resign if he is told Trump wants him out, as widely expected.
Trump campaigned in part on the idea of cleaning house with an FBI that he claimed was full of politically motivated and corrupt executives. He has frequently criticized Wray over the years, but not nearly as much as he has hounded other officials at the Justice Department, which oversees the FBI.
Wray told NBC News in April that he “enjoyed doing this work.”
“As long as I think I can do that in a way that meets all those rules and standards, I’d like to keep doing it,” Wray said at the time.
Trump demanded this in July Wray is resigning “NOW.” after testifying before Congress that Trump’s ear injury from the attempt on his life that month might not have been the result of a bullet.
The FBI confirmed later in a statement that a bullet struck Trump’s ear.
Trump responded on his social media website Truth Social. “I guess this is the best apology we can get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!” he wrote.
In recent days, Trump has made personnel announcements for top positions, among others White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles And “border czar” Tom Homan. Appointing a new FBI director would require confirmation in the Senate, where Republicans will have a majority starting in January.
Patel is a former House of Representatives and National Security Council staffer who worked for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and became a top Defense Department official in the waning days of the first Trump administration. He has also been a longtime critic of the Justice Department and the agencies he considers leading.
In his memoir, titled “Government Gangsters,” Patel called for a “comprehensive cleanup” at the Justice Department and FBI, including firing many in leadership and prosecuting those who “in any way abused their authority for political purposes’.
Trump tried to appoint Patel as deputy CIA director near the end of his term, but blinked when CIA Director Gina Haspel promised to resign if he went through with it.
Patel was asked about the possibility of becoming CIA director in an interview with former White House adviser Steve Bannon in December.
“We must mobilize all American patriots from top to bottom,” Patel said at the time.
“We will go out and find the conspirators, not only in the government but also in the media – yes, we are going after the people in the media who lied about American citizens helping Joe Biden rig the presidential election. Whether it’s criminal or civil, we’re going to figure that out, but yes, we’ll keep you all informed.”
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