Top White House aides are worried FBI Director Christopher Wray could quit if the highly controversial Republican memo alleging the FBI abused its surveillance tools is released, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation tell CNN.Fran Townshend, a homeland security advisor to President George W. Bush who now works for CBS, says Wray may rebut the Nunes memo:
Wray has made clear he is frustrated that President Donald Trump picked him to lead the FBI after he fired FBI Director James Comey in May, yet his advice on the Nunes memo is being disregarded and cast as part of the purported partisan leadership of the FBI, according to a senior law enforcement official.
Wray's stance is "raising hell," one source familiar with the matter said.
FBI director Christopher Wray is prepared to issue a rebuttal if the White House releases Rep. Devin Nunes's classified memo alleging inappropriate surveillance of the Trump campaign by the FBI and Justice Department, according to CBS News senior national security analyst Fran Townsend. The FBI issued a statement Wednesday that they have "grave concerns" about the memo and the "material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo's accuracy."I don't believe Wray will quit, and the fact that White House sources are expressing concern about his departure may mean that someone will try to talk the president out of firing Wray if Wray issues a public rebuke after the memo's release. However, Trump's not going to be happy. Wray's clearly not on his team.
So what happens if Wray is gone soon, voluntarily or otherwise? I asked that question on Twitter.
So who's Trump going to pick to replace Christopher Wray?
— Steve M. (@nomoremister) February 1, 2018
Here's one answer I received:
Gowdy
— mjohnso27 (@mjohnso27) February 1, 2018
Probably. Yikes.
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UPDATE, via djchefron in comments:
Per @PeteWilliamsNBC #ChrisWray has no intention of quitting if memo is released over his objections
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) February 1, 2018
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