Trump taps respected law enforcement attorney to head FBI

President Donald Trump surprised Washington on Wednesday with his choice to replace James Comey a day ahead of the ousted FBI director’s congressional testimony, tapping a white-collar defense lawyer with strong law enforcement background. Both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate praised the nomination.

In an early morning tweet, Trump said he intended to nominate Christopher Wray, a high-ranking official in George W. Bush’s Justice Department.

Trump, in a statement later Wednesday, called Wray “an impeccably qualified individual.”

“I know that he will again serve his country as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity once the Senate confirms him to lead the FBI,” Trump said.

Wray said he was honored to be selected.

“I look forward to serving the American people with integrity as the leader of what I know firsthand to be an extraordinary group of men and women who have dedicated their careers to protecting this country,” he said.

Wray rose to head the Justice Department’s criminal division in the Bush administration and oversaw investigations into corporate fraud, at a time when Comey was deputy attorney general. Wray took charge of a task force of prosecutors and FBI agents created to investigate the Enron scandal.

The response in the Senate, where Wray would need a majority vote to be confirmed, was widely sup- portive.

“Christopher Wray’s legal credentials and law enforcement background certainly make him a suitable candidate to lead the FBI,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.