FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation on Wednesday, stating he would step down at the end of January.
The announcement marks the end of his tenure leading the bureau during a time of heightened scrutiny and controversy.
Former President Donald Trump quickly named his pick for Wray’s replacement, selecting Kash Patel, a known Trump ally with experience in the Department of Defense and as a senior advisor to the Director of National Intelligence.
While some welcomed Wray’s resignation, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a vocal critic of Wray, made it clear that the FBI director’s departure does not absolve him of accountability.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Jordan celebrated the news but reiterated his commitment to ongoing oversight of the bureau.
Jordan described Wray’s resignation as “great” news and criticized his tenure, pointing to what he called significant missteps.
“I mean, Chris Wray was, you know, investigating moms and dads who show up for school board meetings. He was putting out a memorandum on saying, ‘If you’re a pro-life Catholic, you’re an extremist.’ The FBI retaliated against whistleblowers who came and gave us that kind of information. We learned yesterday that they were spying on congressional staffers and their metadata. And of course, he raided President Trump’s home,” Jordan said.
The Ohio congressman has overseen multiple investigations into the FBI and Department of Justice through the Judiciary Committee, many of which have focused on allegations of political bias and misconduct under Wray’s leadership. Jordan emphasized that the work of holding the FBI accountable is far from over.
When asked whether his committee’s oversight of Wray’s handling of the bureau would continue, Jordan replied, “Oh, yeah.”
He added that additional reports from the inspector general could soon shed light on further issues within the FBI.
“And there’s, we think, reports coming that are going to, you know, shed even more light on what’s been going on down line from the inspector general,” Jordan told Fox News Digital.
Jordan’s comments come amid ongoing frustration among some pundits and observers over the perceived lack of consequences for alleged wrongdoing exposed by congressional investigations.
Critics argue that despite revelations of misconduct, little accountability has been enforced during the past several years.
The landscape of federal law enforcement and justice oversight could shift significantly if Donald Trump, who has announced his intention to seek another term in the White House, returns to office.
Trump’s proposed appointments include Kash Patel as FBI director and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as the head of the Department of Justice.
Supporters of these moves anticipate a more aggressive approach to addressing what they view as the politicization of the justice system.
With new leadership in key positions, they hope to see accountability measures enacted to prevent similar controversies in the future.
As the transition unfolds, all eyes will remain on the House Judiciary Committee and other oversight bodies to ensure transparency and fairness in the FBI and beyond.
