Why was Christopher Wray chosen to head the FBI?

(Baonghean) - After a tumultuous search for personnel, US President Donald Trump on June 7 "finalized" his plan for the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The nominee is Christopher Wray, a former senior official of the Department of Justice.

However, he needs to be confirmed by the Senate to fill the seat vacated by James Comey's firing last month.

Political magician

The fact that President Donald Trump is eyeing Christopher Wray for the position of FBI Director is not surprising to the American public. That is because of the 50-year-old man's extensive and outstanding track record as well as his close ties to the White House boss. Christopher Wray's academic record is marked by having attended two prestigious American universities at the same time.

That was at Yale University and Yale Law School, where he was a research assistant to a renowned professor of law and religion: Stephen Carter. Wray clerked for Judge Michael Luttig, a well-known conservative on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court.

Christopher Wray is a choice that satisfies many of President Donald Trump's criteria. Photo: Politico

Wray then spent four years at the law firm King & Spalding before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta as a prosecutor in 1997.

Christopher Wray personally handled numerous cases involving drugs, guns, counterfeit money, and corruption during this time, most notably an investigation into a prominent investment banker and the head of the city’s investment office in Atlanta.

Wray also worked at the Justice Department headquarters from May 2001. He was one of the closest figures to Attorney General Larry Thompson and was later promoted to an important position in the office. Wray's time at the Justice Department also coincided with the most turmoil in the United States with the series of terrorist attacks on September 11.

As a result, Wray had the opportunity to participate in solving the problems of the Bush administration after the terrorist attacks. But this period was also marked by controversy over the methods Wray used to achieve his goals in the job.

Politico quoted many experts predicting that, in order to be able to sit in the FBI director's chair, Wray will have to clarify his involvement in the widespread detention of citizens of Muslim countries. "We have never experienced anything as brutal and cowardly as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

And we must do everything in our power, within the Constitution and the law, to make sure that they never happen again.” This was Christopher Wray's statement at a US Senate hearing in 2003 when he was nominated for the position of Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Affairs.

Clearly, such a high-profile position is a great opportunity for Wray to prepare for future promotions. Wray has additional experience overseeing major criminal investigations and prosecutions, such as the Justice Department’s Enron task force, which investigated fraud by the energy giant.

Wray’s practical experience in the Justice Department combined with his tactical acumen is what makes him stand out. “I know he will bring respect to the Justice Department. The difference is his independence of thought and action. And his decisiveness in a very tough environment,” said Neil MacBride, former Attorney General of Northern Virginia.

Christopher Wray, a former US assistant attorney general, stood behind former FBI Director James Comey at a press conference in 2004. Photo: Guardian

Notably, he worked for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a supporter of President Trump during last year's presidential campaign. With his experience as a criminal defense attorney, Wray represented Governor Christie in a federal investigation targeting Christie's allies.

The case, dubbed Bridgegate, involved Christie's staff and allies allegedly colluding to create a traffic jam in Fort Lee, New Jersey, by closing car lanes at a major toll plaza. The lane closures were intentional.

It was an act of revenge against Fort Lee Governor Mark Sokolich, a Democrat who had not supported Christie in the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election. With Wray’s support, Christie was “safe” from the charges.

Therefore, President Donald Trump's targeting of Christopher Wray for a senior position at the FBI is an effort to show the public that the investigation into Russia's involvement in his campaign is credible.

Wray is both a safe and an orthodox choice, because he ticks two boxes: a politician with both extensive professional experience and a history of staying out of partisan fights.

Wray’s past experience as a Justice Department supervisor would help allay concerns among FBI employees that President Trump is trying to weaken and politicize the agency.

Phan Tung