Contents
The US President took to Twitter to declare his nomination of Christopher Wray as FBI Director on Wednesday morning. Christopher Wray has “impeccable credentials,” said President Trump in the tweet, praising his credentials and character in front of all. This appointment of a director at this particular period brings additional scrutiny the agency faced following President Trump’s move of firing the former Director James Comey back in May of 2017.
Christopher Wray was viewed as a prudent choice by many due to his many years of experience as a lawyer dealing with law enforcement. He had been Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, where he had earned a reputation for handling high-profile and complex cases. Wray was also a partner at King & Spalding, a prestigious law firm, where he specialized in corporate governance and internal investigations. Due to his strong linkages with the legal and judicial systems, along with leadership in big legal matters, he was highly regarded among the lawyers.
While Trump’s praise for Wray focused on his qualifications, others, such as The New York Times, described him as a “safe, mainstream pick.” The term “mainstream” suggests that Wray, while highly competent, may not be as controversial or transformative as some had hoped for in the wake of Comey’s firing. Wray’s profile looked like that of a steady, unassuming professional who could navigate the challenges of leading the F.B.I. through this polarized political time.
One of the most significant factors in Wray’s favor was his independence. Although he had served under President George W. Bush and had been appointed to senior positions during the Bush administration, Wray had also shown an ability to reach across the political aisle. His nomination was a signal that the FBI could be run by someone with respect for the agency’s independence from political influence. This quality was important, particularly given the heightened scrutiny of the FBI’s role in ongoing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Despite the praise from the president and his background in law enforcement, Wray’s confirmation was not guaranteed. The nomination had to be approved by the Senate, and it remained to be seen whether his calm demeanor and non-controversial nature would help him secure the position. To those who paid close attention to Wray’s career, however, he was a man deeply committed to public service, with a long history of working within the bounds of the law to see that justice was served.
In the end, Christopher Wray would represent a capable and steady figure to manage the Bureau during some of the most tumultuous times in American politics. Whether it would be quiet or controversial, it was anybody’s guess, but for now, this was movement toward restoration of order at the top of the FBI.
Christopher Wray’s Wiki
Born in 1967, Christopher Wray is a lawyer, who was an Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division under the George W. Bush administration from 2003 to 2005. Currently, he is a partner in the private law firm, King & Spalding.
He lives in Georgia and is married with two children. Wray graduated from Yale University in 1989 and later earned his law degree in 1992 at Yale Law School.
While there, he was the executive editor of the Yale Law Journal and, after graduating, spent a year clerking for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
FBI Director Nomination
On June 7, 2017, President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he was nominating Christopher Wray as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This comes one month after James Comey was fired from this post.
Government Service
In 1997, Christopher Wray was an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Then, in 2001, he moved to the Justice Department as an associate deputy attorney general and principal associate deputy attorney general.
While there, Wray handled major scandals, including fraud investigations like the one with energy giant, Enron.
In 2003, Wray was nominated for the post of assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division by President George W. Bush. In 2005, he received the Edmund J. Randolph Award, the department’s highest award for public service and leadership.
Also Read: Dillon Passage Wiki: Facts About Joe Exotic’s Husband
Private Practice
After serving in the U.S. government, Christopher Wray joined King & Spalding as a litigation partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., and Atlanta offices in 2015.
While there, he acted as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s attorney during the Bridgegate scandal. During the trial, defense attorneys looked for Christie’s missing cell phone for access to his inner circle.
The evidence surfaced two years later in Wray’s possession. Though a subpoena was filed, it was denied by the judge so the contents of the phone were never seen.
