US Justice Department Investigates FBI Leadership Under Christopher Wray

The J. Edgar Hoover Building, headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Washington, DC, on July 20, 2025. Photo by Eric Lee/Getty Images/File.

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a nationwide investigative probe into FBI leadership during the tenure of Director Christopher Wray. The investigation relates to allegations of destruction or improper handling of documents in connection with the case involving Special Counsel Durham’s work.

According to two people familiar with the investigation, the Western District of Virginia is leading this probe, which focuses on possible misconduct by the FBI’s senior leadership from 2020–2024, when Wray was director.

Investigators have recently been inviting interviews and speaking with employees who worked on the seventh floor of the FBI headquarters during Wray’s tenure, where his leadership team was based.

“Christopher Wray, then-FBI Director, has a lot to explain. This is now the second consecutive case: Comey and Wray were caught lying, and our country is at stake.”

Political Context and Public Reaction

The investigation unfolds against a backdrop of growing pressure from former President Donald Trump to hold former FBI officials accountable. After bringing charges against James Comey, he said that Wray allegedly lied about the events of January 6, 2021, and hinted at possible new charges against other opponents.

“Christopher Wray, then-FBI Director, has a lot to explain… this is the second consecutive case – Comey and Wray were deceiving, and our country is at stake,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.

Sources also indicate that the investigation will involve documents stored in so-called burn bags – containers used to destroy paper copies of classified materials, which were often subject to destruction. Investigators are currently examining these details.

The investigation may also touch on compliance with certain documents and their preservation at the FBI’s Winchester facility, which has implications for the district’s national security.

Attorney General Pam Bondi recently ordered federal prosecutors to convene a broad grand jury regarding the use of intelligence data in 2016.

As the investigation continues, the Western District of Virginia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office remains active amid internal tensions, and former Virginia Attorney General Robert Tracich has been serving as acting U.S. Attorney General for over a month.

The first Trump-appointed official, Todd Gilbert, left the post a few months after a clash with the White House over his deputy; other sources point to internal disputes during his tenure, and a representative for the Western District declined to comment on the situation.

In the context of the investigation, information has emerged about Kes Patel’s role and his comments regarding documents and data carriers at the FBI’s headquarters that could have been the subject of scrutiny.

“Our guys are sorting this out now.”

The FBI continues to adhere to strict protocols for preserving and destroying documents, including the use of burn bags and backups, as confirmed by both current and former employees.

Additional details from Durham’s investigation point to interactions between investigators and relevant agencies and reveal political aspects tied to 2016 that could influence further steps in this case.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in the Western District of Virginia continue to work on the case with national security considerations and process transparency in mind.

“No matter what happens externally, we must remain committed to our work – doing it right every day, sticking to the facts, wherever they may lead, because trust in the system depends on our honesty.”