Christopher Wray's Resignation As FBI Head Mocked As 'Anticipatory Obedience'

David Moye
·3-min read

The decision of FBI Director Christopher Wray to resign from his position two years before his 10-year term ended didn’t exactly get him hosannas on social media.

“I’ve decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down,” Wray told FBI staffers. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.”

The resignation opens the door for President-elect Donald Trump’s preferred nominee, Kash Patel, without having to fire Wray.

Trump appointed Wray to the FBI Director position in 2017 after he fired James Comey, but hasn’t been too happy with him since the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and uncovered troves of classified documents that led to federal criminal charges against Trump.

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Although Wray probably wants his departure to be seen as a statesman-like decision, it wasn’t seen that way on social media.

Instead, he was criticized for engaging in “anticipatory obedience” by former Obama administration ethics czar Norm Eisen, who thought Wray had a duty to the country to “constantly push back” and make Trump fire him.

Other people also called out Wray for succumbing to the pressure.

This is an unbelievable abdication by Wray and makes it so much easier for Trump to install a corrupt leadership under Kash Patel and weaponize the FBI. Wray is doing a huge disservice to the FBI past, present, and future.

— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg.bsky.social)2024-12-11T19:28:42.810Z

Wray is making a mistake.

— Anthony Michael Kreis (@anthonymkreis.bsky.social)2024-12-11T19:20:33.174Z

Wray hasn't done anything worthy of getting fired by Trump and should've made him do it

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)2024-12-11T19:16:03.497Z

Christopher Wray just announced his dutiful 'Obey in Advance' resignation. Nothing but cowards and quislings all the way down.

— Kim (@web.kim)2024-12-11T19:27:55.442Z

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) spoke out against Wray’s resignation Wednesday on MSNBC. You can see the segment below.

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