Trump to nominate Christopher A. Wray as new FBI director

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he will nominate Christopher A. Wray, a former assistant attorney general, as the new chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 

"I will be nominating Christopher A. Wray, a man of impeccable credentials, to be the new Director of the FBI. Details to follow," Trump said.

In this Jan. 12, 2005 file photo, Assistant Attorney General, Christopher Wray speaks at a press conference at the Justice Dept. in Washington. US President Donald Trump has picked a longtime lawyer and former Justice Department official to be the next FBI director. Trump said on Twitter Wednesday that he will be nominating Christopher Wray, calling him "a man of impeccable credentials." [Photo: AP/Lawrence Jackson]

The White House said in late May that Trump met with candidates for the FBI director post, including Wray. 

If confirmed by Congress, Wray will be replacing former FBI Director James Comey, who has been continuously embroiled in controversies with his probes into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during last year's campaign and investigations into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Comey was abruptly fired in May after Trump was said to have pressured Comey to suspend the investigation relating to Michael Flynn, the former national security advisor who resigned after inappropriate connections with a Russian diplomat came to light.

According to Wray's resume on the Department of Justice website, he was born in 1967 and served as assistant attorney general in charge of the criminal division under former U.S. President George W. Bush from 2003 to 2005.

Wray entered the private sector after his tenure ended in the Department of Justice. 

Wray is viewed among U.S. officials as a safe choice as he lacks partisan traits, despite having donated consistently to Republican candidates during elections. 

Media reports revealed that Wray has represented New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a fierce Trump ally, during the so-called "Bridgegate" scandal.