FBI Director Christopher A. Wray plans to resign on or before Inauguration Day, The Washington Times has learned. Mr. Wray is calling it quits because he doesn’t want to get fired by President-elect Donald Trump, according to sources inside the bureau who are familiar with the director’s thinking. “He’s going to be gone at the…… Read more
NEW YORK — A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury delivered the verdict, clearing Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s death last year. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed…… Read more
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will attend the Army-Navy football game in Landover, Maryland, next week with President-elect Donald Trump in a rare joint appearance by the two former political opponents, a source confirmed Friday. Mr. DeSantis, who ran against Mr. Trump in the GOP…… Read more
A search is underway for the gunman who killed the CEO of the nation’s largest health insurance company outside a Manhattan hotel as the executive was arriving to speak at a conference Wednesday morning. The unidentified masked gunman waited for Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, to walk past him before opening fire in a “premeditated, preplanned…… Read more
Donald Trump reportedly wants to accomplish what the War of 1812 did not. The president-elect was probably trolling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at their meeting last week, but he reportedly suggested making Canada the 51st state. Or maybe the 51st and 52nd. According to a report on Fox News, Mr. Trump made the suggestion…… Read more
By Jeff Mordock – The Washington Times – Sunday, December 1, 2024 President Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden on tax and gun charges, condemning the prosecutions as politically motivated while reversing his promise not to use his executive authority to save his son from potential prison sentences. In a statement Sunday night, Mr. Biden called the convictions “a miscarriage of justice” and accused Republicans of…… Read more
Rep. Nancy Mace is not backing down on her opposition to transgender women in women’s restrooms, and is ready to take her case nationwide. The issue comes as Capitol Hill will get its first openly transgender member of Congress, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, Delaware Democrat…… Read more
President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he will impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, and additional 10% levies on all Chinese products, on his first day in office as penalties for deadly fentanyl and illegal immigrants pouring across the borders. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said that on Jan. 20…… Read more
Twelve senators are urging the Department of Homeland Security’s top watchdog to probe the Transportation Security Administration’s facial recognition technology, as many Americans prepare to travel for the busy holiday season. The bipartisan Senate coalition includes unlikely allies worried about the TSA’s conduct, including strange bedfellows such as Sens. Ted Cruz…… Read more
The Biden administration has spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to study and police “misinformation,” according to a report released Friday. OpenTheBooks, a spending watchdog, said the federal government has spent $267 million since 2021 on contracts and research grants that include the term “misinformation” in the proposals…… Read more
By Kerry Picket The Washington Times Monday, December 9, 2024
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray plans to resign on or before Inauguration Day, The Washington Times has learned.
Mr. Wray is calling it quits because he doesn’t want to get fired by President-elect Donald Trump, according to sources inside the bureau who are familiar with the director’s thinking.
“He’s going to be gone at the inauguration. On or before the inauguration,” a source said.
Following Mr. Wray’s departure, Deputy Director Paul Abbate will become acting director and appoint an acting deputy director. Mr. Abbate’s original plan was to stay until May or June so he could help with the transition to a new FBI director.
Kash Patel, Mr. Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, is meeting Republican senators on Capitol Hill this week. Mr. Patel, who has served as the defense secretary’s chief of staff and senior adviser to the National Security Council, was tapped by Mr. Trump to shake up the FBI management.
Mr. Wray knew his days were numbered at the FBI.
Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the Iowa Republican who will become chairman of the Judiciary Committee next month, sent a scathing letter Monday to Mr. Wray saying he should be ousted before his 10-year term as FBI director is up — and he said Mr. Abbate should go, too.
Mr. Grassley’s letter changed Mr. Abbate’s plans, and he is now looking for an alternate acting deputy director to appoint.
“For the good of the country, it’s time for you and your deputy to move on to the next chapter in your lives,” Mr. Grassley wrote in the letter to Mr. Wray. “I therefore must express my vote of no confidence in your continued leadership of the FBI.”
Mr. Grassley, who is a leading lawmaker advocating for the protection of whistleblowers, has repeatedly clashed with the FBI over whistleblower reports of abuse of power and other misconduct at the bureau.
The allegations included politically biased investigations and a bizarre chain of events in which the FBI appeared to try to discredit Mr. Grassley and GOP Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin as the two senators probed the Biden family.
The raid on Mr. Trump’s home, where agents sought classified documents, also loomed large in Mr. Grassley’s complaints.
“In that raid, roughly 30 armed agents entered the home of a former president of the United States, with full authorization to use lethal force if needed to execute its warrant, and even searched the former First Lady’s clothing drawers,” Mr. Grassley wrote.
The FBI responded with a statement to The Times.
“The FBI has repeatedly demonstrated our commitment to responding to Congressional oversight and being transparent with the American people. Director Wray and Deputy Director Abbate have taken strong actions toward achieving accountability in the areas mentioned in the letter and remain committed to sharing information about the continuously evolving threat environment facing our nation and the extraordinary work of the FBI,” the statement said.
NEW YORK — A Marine veteran who used a chokehold on an agitated subway rider was acquitted on Monday in a death that became a prism for differing views about public safety, valor and vigilantism. A Manhattan jury delivered the verdict, clearing Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s death last year. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed…… Continue Reading
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will attend the Army-Navy football game in Landover, Maryland, next week with President-elect Donald Trump in a rare joint appearance by the two former political opponents, a source confirmed Friday. Mr. DeSantis, who ran against Mr. Trump in the GOP…… Continue Reading
A search is underway for the gunman who killed the CEO of the nation’s largest health insurance company outside a Manhattan hotel as the executive was arriving to speak at a conference Wednesday morning. The unidentified masked gunman waited for Brian Thompson, chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, to walk past him before opening fire in a “premeditated, preplanned…… Continue Reading
Donald Trump reportedly wants to accomplish what the War of 1812 did not. The president-elect was probably trolling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at their meeting last week, but he reportedly suggested making Canada the 51st state. Or maybe the 51st and 52nd. According to a report on Fox News, Mr. Trump made the suggestion…… Continue Reading
By Jeff Mordock – The Washington Times – Sunday, December 1, 2024 President Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden on tax and gun charges, condemning the prosecutions as politically motivated while reversing his promise not to use his executive authority to save his son from potential prison sentences. In a statement Sunday night, Mr. Biden called the convictions “a miscarriage of justice” and accused Republicans of…… Continue Reading
Rep. Nancy Mace is not backing down on her opposition to transgender women in women’s restrooms, and is ready to take her case nationwide. The issue comes as Capitol Hill will get its first openly transgender member of Congress, Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, Delaware Democrat…… Continue Reading
President-elect Donald Trump said Monday he will impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, and additional 10% levies on all Chinese products, on his first day in office as penalties for deadly fentanyl and illegal immigrants pouring across the borders. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said that on Jan. 20…… Continue Reading
Twelve senators are urging the Department of Homeland Security’s top watchdog to probe the Transportation Security Administration’s facial recognition technology, as many Americans prepare to travel for the busy holiday season. The bipartisan Senate coalition includes unlikely allies worried about the TSA’s conduct, including strange bedfellows such as Sens. Ted Cruz…… Continue Reading
The Biden administration has spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars to study and police “misinformation,” according to a report released Friday. OpenTheBooks, a spending watchdog, said the federal government has spent $267 million since 2021 on contracts and research grants that include the term “misinformation” in the proposals…… Continue Reading