Republican Senator Mike Rounds expressed support for FBI Director Christopher Wray, following President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he would nominate Kash Patel as Wray’s replacement. Wray was nominated by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2017, serving a 10-year term to prevent the FBI from being politicized. Rounds praised Wray’s performance as FBI director and stated that he would evaluate Patel fairly during the confirmation process.
White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the importance of FBI directors serving their full terms, regardless of political affiliation. He noted that President Joe Biden allowed Wray, a Trump appointee, to serve his term in full. Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin criticized Trump’s decision to replace Wray with Patel, calling it an attempt to politicize the FBI and urging the Senate to reject Patel’s nomination.
Overall, there is bipartisan support for Wray to continue serving as FBI director and concerns about replacing him with Patel, who is seen as a political loyalist. The Senate will need to confirm Patel’s appointment, which must happen after Trump’s inauguration in January. The debate over Wray’s tenure reflects larger concerns about political influence within law enforcement agencies and the need for independent leadership.
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