Outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray calls for commitment to ‘rule of law’ in farewell address

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI must rise above partisan fights and “do its best to uphold the rule of law,” Director Christopher Wray, who is retiring as the Biden administration winds down, said in his farewell address. It’s been over 7 years since I worked there.

“No matter what happens out there, here we must always do our best to do things the right way, with professionalism, rigor and honesty,” Wray said. This means following the facts wherever they lead, no matter who likes them or not. Because trust me, it is. If I’ve learned anything in this job, it’s that there’s always someone who doesn’t like you.”

The remarks, made at a packed farewell ceremony at FBI headquarters, avoided direct political commentary, without explicitly mentioning President-elect Donald Trump’s harsh criticism or the turmoil facing the bureau amid a barrage of high-level investigations into both him and Trump. I did it. President Joe Biden. But the backdrop was unmistakable amid concerns that Trump, who last month appointed loyalist Kash Patel to the post, forcing Wray to leave, could use the FBI’s law enforcement powers to exact revenge on his enemies.

Wray added that adhering to the rule of law means conducting investigations without fear or favor and not pursuing them when there is no foresight. That is what the rule of law is. We must remain independent and objective and rise above partisanship and politics. Because that’s what the American people expect and I think that’s what they deserve.”

Wray announced his intention to resign ahead of Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, about three years short of the FBI director’s 10-year term. The move follows President Trump’s announcement that he would appoint Patel, a former Justice Department prosecutor who has sharply criticized the FBI’s investigation into Trump, and has called for a major overhaul of the FBI and talked about going after members of the so-called “deep state” in Washington. It will. It is a derogatory term used by Trump and his allies to refer to entrenched government officials.

Wray’s tenure saw increasingly sophisticated Chinese cyberespionage campaigns, brazen Iranian assassination plots (including one targeting Trump), and most recently a New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 partygoers. He is deceased and the FBI is investigating the conduct. of terrorism.

But the FBI has been embroiled in politically explosive investigations in recent years that have garnered attention and influenced public perceptions of the agency.

This includes investigations into Trump’s hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate (in which agents searched his Florida estate in 2022) and his efforts to cancel the 2020 presidential election, both of which led to indictments . The FBI also investigated Biden’s handling of classified information and the president’s son Hunter’s tax and gun violations. Biden was not indicted, but his son was convicted and eventually pardoned.

The specifics of those investigations were not mentioned at a packed farewell ceremony attended by current and former FBI colleagues, Justice Department leaders, state law enforcement officials and intelligence officials such as CIA Director William Burns. Speakers who paid tribute to Wray instead focused on his dedication to the job as well as the workforce he led.

“Going forward, as we continue to work with our good friends at the FBI, CIA agents will continue to ask themselves one question: “What does Chris want us to do?” Burns said the relationship between his agency and the bureau is closer than ever.

Wray was appointed after President Trump fired former Director James Comey in 2017, giving up a successful legal career in Atlanta to return to public service in Washington after serving as a senior Justice Department official.

“He certainly enjoyed his right to stay there and never come back,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland, drawing laughter from the audience. “His life could have been a comfortable flow of practicing ‘big law,’ following (Georgia) Bulldogs games, watching his beloved New York Giants on TV, and most importantly, walking his dog without protection.”

“Chris Wray is public-spirited to the core,” Garland added. So no one was surprised when he answered the call once again in 2017. This time it was to implement one of the most important and difficult rules of all government.”

Garland said his favorite part of the day is the morning briefing on threats to the country, which he and Wray attend together, and no politics are discussed.

“If the American people could witness that meeting, they would be very proud,” he said.