By Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times,
FBI Director Christopher Wray, who is stepping down from the agency’s helm, has written a public farewell message in which he gives a stern assessment of the threats facing America, while calling the Chinese regime’s hostile actions “a defining threat to our generation.”
Reflecting on his more than seven years under the leadership of the FBI, he wrote in a Jan. 18 op-ed published by Fox News that the threats to the country are more serious than at any time in his career — and warned that they were starting to get worse.
“From where I sit, these threats are more dangerous and complex than ever before than I remember my career in law enforcement almost 30 years ago,” he wrote.
“As we look to the future, the challenges to our security will become even more daunting, and our margin for error will continue to diminish.”
Opponents — including cartels, gangs, hackers, hostile states and terrorists — are now more inventive and technologically advanced than ever, Wray warned. Cyberattacks can disrupt critical infrastructure, encrypted applications allow for secret terrorist planning, and cartels take advantage of global supply chains to produce very strong drugs that are traded across borders and endanger the lives of millions of Americans, he noted.
Terrorist threats are increasing, and foreign and domestic actors are inspired by events such as Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2024, Wray said, adding that bad actors are quickly mobilizing and making it increasingly difficult to detect.
Foreign adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran target Americans by stealing personal data, conducting cyberattacks on key infrastructure, exploiting businesses, and even exporting repression to the U.S. coast.
“The Chinese government, in particular, has planned unprecedented efforts to nurture American innovation, steal our most valuable personal data, and interfere in our free and open society. History marks this as a defining threat to our generation,” Wray wrote.
Wray called on the United States to prioritize unity and vigilance, warning that the margin for error in countering these threats is rapidly diminishing.
“From my place, I see serious adult threats that require serious adult attention,” he warned.
The outgoing director also praised the steps the FBI has taken in recent years to make the country safer and more secure. He said the agency and its partners have made significant progress in recent years, arresting nearly 50 violent criminals every day, rescuing hundreds of children and imprisoning numerous predators. They have dismantled gangs, confiscated enough fentanyl to kill tens of millions of Americans and prevented cybercriminals from extorting nearly $800 million from potential victims, he said.
The agency has also thwarted numerous terrorist attacks, including plots against places of worship, public events and communities nationwide, Wray said. He expressed immense pride in the efforts and sacrifices of the FBI rank and file, but warned them against complacency or distraction from politics.
“We need to focus on the dangers and our work, not what separates us,” he wrote. “We must continue to address the threats facing our country with objectivity, rigor and professionalism. That’s what the American people expect and deserve.”
Wray’s farewell was revealed just days before he resigns as FBI director. He announced his resignation in December.
Wray recently clarified that he resigned because President-elect Donald Trump wants a leadership change at the FBI.
“The president-elect had made it clear that he was going to make a change, and the law is that it’s something he can do for any reason or no reason at all,” he said. Wray said in a CBS interview.
Trump has named Kash Patel as the head of the agency. Calling him “a brilliant lawyer, investigator and “America First” fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice and protecting the American people,” Trump expressed confidence that the FBI is under Patel’s leadership.
