Presidential Transition Highlights: Democrats Back Compromise Stimulus Plan as Baseline to Resume Talks – The New York Times

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President Trump appointed Christopher Wray, a Republican who served in President George W. Bush’s administration, to succeed James Comey as F.B.I. director.
President Trump appointed Christopher Wray, a Republican who served in President George W. Bush’s administration, to succeed James Comey as F.B.I. director.Credit…Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times

President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has no plans to remove Christopher Wray, the F.B.I. director installed by President Trump if he is still in the job when the new administration comes in, according to a senior adviser to Mr. Biden with knowledge of the process.

The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Mr. Biden’s team was “not removing the F.B.I. director unless Trump fired him” — signaling a return to pre-Trump norms of continuity at a core domestic law enforcement agency that is supposed to operate without political meddling.

Another key position on Mr. Biden’s national security team, director of the C.I.A., is also expected to be filled soon, with David S. Cohen, a former deputy C.I.A. director, emerging as the leading choice, according to people familiar with the process.

Mr. Biden has made no final decision on Mr. Cohen, and his selection depends in part on the mix of people he wants to lead the Pentagon and other agencies.

No formal announcement is expected on the C.I.A. until at least next week.

Aides to Mr. Biden did not comment publicly on either position.

Mr. Biden’s decision to leave Mr. Wray in place would be a return to the norms around F.B.I. directors, who are confirmed by the Senate and are supposed to have 10-year terms, and are rarely fired. Dismissing them requires an explanation about why such an extraordinary measure would be taken.

But Mr. Trump fired James B. Comey, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, in May 2017, roiling Washington and triggering the appointment of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to investigate possible conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian officials in 2016.

Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Wray, a Republican who served in President George W. Bush’s administration, to succeed Mr. Comey. But the president soured on Mr. Wray soon after he assumed the job, complaining that he wasn’t moving fast enough to rid the bureau of officials installed by Mr. Comey.

The president’s anger at Mr. Wray has grown since then, reaching new heights during the summer, when he wanted to dismiss Mr. Wray once documents related to the case of the former national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, were declassified by other officials. Mr. Trump believed that Mr. Wray had delayed declassifying documents related to the Russia investigation.

At the time, as Mr. Trump railed about firing Mr. Wray, Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, intervened by reaching out to Attorney General William P. Barr, who came to the White House to dissuade Mr. Trump from taking such action.

But Mr. Trump’s view of Mr. Wray never improved, and he told advisers before the election that Mr. Wray would be dismissed soon after, but he has yet to dismiss him.

There is little such drama surrounding Mr. Biden’s search for a C.I.A. director.

Mr. Biden has always thought highly of Mr. Cohen, and Avril D. Haines, Mr. Biden’s choice to serve as director of national intelligence, supports the potential appointment, top Biden aides said.

Mr. Cohen, who succeeded Ms. Haines as the deputy C.I.A. chief, worked closely with her on the National Security Council’s “deputies committee” — composed of the No. 2 leaders of national security departments and agencies — during the Obama administration. Ensuring an easy partnership between Ms. Haines and the C.I.A. director is a priority of the new administration, according to people who have spoken with transition officials,

Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/02/us/joe-biden-trump

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