We need a federal law enforcement/ intelligence agency that is formidable and sets the standard for excellence.
It’s been painful to see the FBI I served with pride for over 24 years be transformed into a political weapon by idealogues and anti-Trump partisans. Now the FBI faces the prospect of a new director who has a mandate to dramatically change how the FBI exercises the powers entrusted to it. The challenge is to dramatically overhaul the FBI without destroying this once venerated institution.
In 2013 BC (Before Comey) the FBI enjoyed the full confidence of Americans because it focused on the core mission and stayed out of politics. FBI agents dismantled violent gangs such as MS-13, splintered the powerful Colombian and Mexican drug cartels and virtually eliminated almost two dozen mafia families. The BC FBI captured global terrorists and disrupted the espionage activities of foreign intelligence services.
According to a Rasmussen poll, 64% of our citizens believe the FBI has been weaponized. The FBI simply cannot be effective without the support of the American public. Former FBI Director Chris Wray, who resigned on Wednesday, missed opportunities to right the ship. He will probably be replaced by President-elect Trump’s choice of Kash Patel. The new FBI leadership team must regain the public’s trust and restore the concept of an FBI bereft of politics.
Much of the FBI’s good will was squandered by its blatantly political investigation of the Trump campaign and its flagrant abuse of four FISA wiretaps on a Trump campaign operative based on an opposition research “dossier” commissioned by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. High-level FBI officials directing the investigation texted each other about their ability to “smell Trump supporters;” communicated intentions to “stop” Trump and spoke of executing on a purported FBI “insurance policy” against Trump taking office.
