The outgoing director called on the FBI to follow ‘the facts wherever they lead’ regardless of the opinions of others.
Outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray said in his farewell address on Friday that the bureau must maintain its independence and avoid partisanship in carrying out its duties to protect the people.
“No matter what’s happening out there—in here, we’ve got to stay committed to doing our work the right way every time. With professionalism, with rigor, with integrity,” he said.
Wray announced his resignation in December after Trump nominated Kash Patel, a former federal prosecutor, to take on the role.
Wray delivered his farewell speech in anticipation of leaving the role at the end of the Biden administration. He has held the position as FBI director since 2017, but will cut short the usual 10-year term an FBI director enjoys.
In his speech, he called on the FBI to follow “the facts wherever they lead” regardless of the opinions of others, saying the bureau carries “an enormous responsibility” to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
“It means conducting investigations without fear or favor. And it means not pursuing investigations when the predication is not there. That’s what the rule of law is all about,” Wray stated.
“We’ve got to maintain our independence and objectivity, staying above partisanship and politics. Because that’s what the American people expect, and I think that’s what they deserve,” he added.
Wray also thanked FBI officials for their hard work and “unyielding commitment to the rule of law,” while praising the results they made through partnerships with state, tribal, and federal law enforcement.
“Those partnerships have made a huge difference—a real, tangible difference—in people’s lives. Together, in recent years, we’ve arrested nearly 50 violent criminals every day,” he said.
“Thank you for keeping up that work in all the years to come. Serving as your director has been the honor of my lifetime.”
Speaking at the farewell ceremony, Attorney General Merrick Garland shared that attending threats briefings with Wray was his favorite part of the day, which he said were focused solely on determining ways to disrupt threats and allocating the necessary resources.
Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com
