The FBI that I see is people, decent people, committed to the highest principles of dignity and professionalism and respect

— Christopher A. Wray, outgoing FBI Director

Christopher Wray, ironically appointed by President Donald Trump in August 2017 as the FBI Director for a 10-year term, is on his way out. In December he announced that he’d resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s tenure, something that President-elect Trump has welcomed. The jury is still out on whether Wray was committed to the highest principles of dignity and professionalism. But he did two unusual things—one he went after Trump when he was out of power with a vengeance. In the process he did not turn out to be loyal to the man who’d appointed him. This is what Trump had to say after Wray’s announcement: “Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America.” The second unusual thing which he did was to investigate Hunter Biden, sitting President Biden’s son, for alleged violations of gun laws and tax leadership. Biden was to later grant pardon to his own son.

The man on his way in is Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel who, if confirmed by the Senate, will head the FBI as its Director when Trump becomes President in January 2025. Not only has he been a loyal supporter of Trump, but he’s been actively advocating for dismantling the “deep state”—a decision-making caucus of entrenched officials, intelligence personnel and wealthy businessmen that runs the establishment in almost a sinister and parallel way within the US government.

Patel’s appointment marks a prominent milestone for the Indian-American community—he is an intrinsic part of it, having been born to Gujarati immigrant parents from East Africa in Queens, New York, in 1980. He’d become the first Indian-American and South Asian to lead the FBI, a significant advancement for the community that has consistently increased its influence in the US political landscape, much in line with its growing financial power.

He has also openly expressed his desire to reform the FBI. In an interview on the conservative Shawn Ryan Show, Patel suggested significant changes, including dismantling the FBI’s intelligence-gathering operations and repurposing its headquarters. “The biggest problem the FBI has had has come out of its intel shops. I’d break that component out of it. I’d shut down the FBI Hoover building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state,” Patel had said. “And I’d take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. Go be cops. You’re cops. Go be cops,” he had added.

Focusing on the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top leaders on the sidelines of the second India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana. He co-chaired discussions with 14 participating nations alongside Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell. The summit highlighted India’s leadership as a voice for the Global South and its support for the Caribbean region’s political and economic aspirations. He also met with the Indian community in Guyana, and we have a comprehensive report.

Happy reading.

Sayantan Chakravarty
sayantanc@gmail.com