President Trump has submitted to the Senate the nomination of Christopher Wray for FBI director, the White House announced Monday night.
If confirmed for a 10-year term, Wray would replace James Comey, who Trump fired in May.
“I am honored and humbled to be nominated by the president to lead the FBI, the premier law enforcement organization in the world,” Wray said in a statement released by the Justice Department. “From my earliest days working with agents as a line prosecutor to my time working with them at the Department of Justice in the aftermath of 9/11, I have been inspired by the men and women of the FBI – inspired by their professionalism, integrity, courage, and sacrifice for the public. If confirmed, it will be a privilege and honor to once again work with them. America faces grave threats both here and abroad, and the FBI, in concert with its federal, state, and local partners continues to work steadfastly to prevent and hold accountable those responsible for these threats. I look forward to the confirmation process, and pledge my complete commitment to fairly and honorably protecting our country and upholding our Constitution and laws.”
Wray, 50, a white-collar criminal defense attorney, previously led the Justice Department’s Criminal Division during two years — 2003 to 2005 — of President George W. Bush’s administration.
In private practice, Wray’s most recent work, he represented New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the “Bridgegate” scandal, in which two of Christie’s aides were given prison sentences after closing down the George Washington Bridge in an act of political retribution.
That work relationship will likely be challenged by Democrats, who will be especially attuned to the independence of the next FBI director at the time the bureau is investigating Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election, and any potential collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
Wray, if confirmed, would not oversee that probe because the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to serve as special counsel to oversee the Russian investigation.
