By Devlin Barrett and Maggie Haberman
On Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump expressed his intention to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray with Kash Patel, a firm critic of the bureau who has advocated for dismantling the agency’s Washington headquarters, terminating its leadership, and bringing the country’s law enforcement entities “to heel.”
Trump’s proposed nomination of Patel echoes his unsuccessful effort to appoint another polarizing figure, Matt Gaetz, as attorney general leading the Justice Department. This move could face challenges in the Senate, which will need to confirm him, and is sure to create turmoil within the FBI, an entity Trump and his supporters consider part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him.
Patel closely mirrors Trump’s belief that substantial portions of the nation’s law enforcement and national security frameworks require cleansing of bias and accountability for what they perceive as unwarranted investigations and prosecutions aimed at Trump and his allies.
Trump stated in a social media announcement that Patel “played an essential role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, acting as a champion for truth, accountability, and the Constitution.”
He praised Patel as “a brilliant attorney, investigator, and ‘America First’ champion who has dedicated his career to exposing corruption, defending Justice, and safeguarding the American populace.”
Patel, popular among Trump’s political base, has experience as a federal prosecutor and a public defender; however, he lacks the conventional law enforcement and management qualifications expected of FBI directors.
He held various roles in the Trump administration towards the end of his first term, including positions on the National Security Council and within the Pentagon. Before departing office in early 2021, Trump suggested appointing Patel as deputy director for either the CIA or the FBI. At that time, Attorney General William Barr mentioned in his memoir that Patel would only become deputy FBI director “over my dead body.”
This announcement emphasizes Trump’s profound discontent with Wray, whose ten-year term does not conclude until 2027. Although Trump appointed Wray, he quickly became dissatisfied, lamenting to friends and allies that Wray was not managing the agency according to his expectations.
Following his loss in the 2020 election, Trump reached out to Wray to inform him that he would not be terminated, even while he moved to dismiss other high-ranking officials, including his defense secretary, Mark Esper.
However, after the FBI executed a search warrant at his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 for classified documents, Trump’s frustration with the FBI intensified, leading him to suggest earlier this year that Wray should resign. By announcing before even taking office that he wanted a new director, Trump was essentially urging Wray to resign rather than be dismissed.
“This is effectively firing the FBI director,” said one law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not permitted to discuss the issue.
“A change in the FBI director immediately following an administration change is extremely perilous,” the official noted, referencing the traditional policy of separating the director appointment cycle from election cycles and partisan politics.
The FBI issued a statement after Trump’s announcement that did not clarify whether Wray would step down.
“Every day, the FBI’s personnel work diligently to safeguard Americans from a myriad of threats,” the statement read. “Director Wray’s primary focus remains on the FBI’s workforce, the individuals we collaborate with, and the citizens we serve.”
While several of Trump’s associates anticipated an announcement regarding Wray’s successor, many doubted he would ultimately choose Patel, considering the potentially extensive confirmation process he might face in the Senate. At one point, Trump had contemplated appointing Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as FBI director, according to two sources informed on the matter.
Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, did not specifically address Trump’s choice of Patel but stated that the organization “is devoted to preserving the bureau’s independence and efficacy in safeguarding the American populace and upholding the Constitution.”
Strong leadership is crucial, she articulated, “for maintaining the integrity and mission of the FBI,” emphasizing that agents’ dedication to enforcing the law and protecting citizens “remains steadfast, regardless of changes in presidential administrations or shifts in bureau leadership.”
Current and former law enforcement officials fear that a second Trump term could pose a threat to the independence and authority of the FBI and the Justice Department, and many believe that Patel’s elevation to directorship would realize their gravest concerns.
Patel expressed his vision for retaliating against the FBI and Justice Department in his book, “Government Gangsters,” advocating for the removal of senior officials in the bureau, which he labeled “a threat to the populace.” He also authored a children’s book titled “The Plot Against the King,” which, through a fantastical narrative, recounts the investigations into potential Russian connections to Trump’s 2016 campaign.
He has pledged to investigate and potentially prosecute journalists upon returning to government, asserting he would “follow the facts and the law.”
“Indeed, we’re coming for those in the media who misled about American citizens, who assisted Joe Biden in rigging presidential elections — we will pursue you,” he declared last year. “Whether through criminal or civil means, we’ll sort it out.”
In planning to oust Wray from the top position at the country’s foremost law enforcement agency, Trump would be echoing one of the most significant actions of his first term, his firing of James Comey as FBI director amidst intensifying investigations into Trump associates.
That action resulted in the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller, who dedicated nearly two years to examining potential connections between the Trump campaign and Russia.
