The current FBI chief Christopher Wray took office in 2017, during Trump's previous term, and has a ten-year appointment. If he does not resign voluntarily, and Patel is approved by the Senate, Trump must fire Wray.
Patel, previously among other things a prosecutor and now in the group preparing Trump's inauguration in January, has said that he wants to go after everyone he claims helped Joe Biden to "rig the election" in 2020 so that Trump lost the White House to Biden. He also wants to pursue officials who leak to the media and make it easier to sue journalists.
In an interview with Trump's adviser Steve Bannon a year ago, Patel said that he and others will track down everyone who conspired against Trump, whether it's officials or people in the media.
We will go after everyone in the media who lied about Americans helping Joe Biden to rig the election, said Patel, who like Trump and his circle claims without evidence that Biden cheated to win the 2020 election.
Patel suggests that those he considers guilty should not feel safe, and that they will be held accountable in one way or another.
