As President-elect Donald Trump continues unveiling nominees for key positions in his upcoming administration, many are closely watching to see who he will select to lead the FBI—a central focus as Trump aims to overhaul the agency that spearheaded the Russia collusion investigation against him. On Friday, one reportedly prominent contender fell off the shortlist in a rather pointed fashion.
Dan Scavino, serving as deputy chief of staff and managing Trump’s transition, confirmed on Friday that former congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers is not being considered to head the Bureau. Rogers, 61, narrowly lost Michigan’s open Senate seat to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin by fewer than 20,000 votes. Scavino revealed that Trump “threw cold water” on the idea of appointing Rogers, despite his background as a former Special Agent and his prior interview for the role in 2017.
“Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It’s not happening — In his own words, ‘I have never even given it a thought.’ Not happening,” Scavino wrote on X, the New York Post reported. A second source close to the transition team confirmed that Trump had nixed the proposal.
Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It’s not happening — In his own words, “I have never even given it a thought.” Not happening.
— Dan Scavino Jr.??? (@DanScavino) November 22, 2024
At 78, President-elect Donald Trump had long planned to remove FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he originally appointed in August 2017. The decision was solidified after the FBI’s August 2022 raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate to recover classified national security documents that Trump had taken with him upon leaving office in January 2021. Rogers had been considered a leading contender for the role of FBI director. Disgraced and fired former bureau deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN on Thursday that Rogers would be a “totally reasonable, logical selection,” citing his experience as chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2011 to 2015.
With Rogers no longer in consideration, several contenders remain for the FBI director role, including Kash Patel, an attorney, national security expert, and prominent MAGA ally. A New York native, Patel is widely recognized for his unwavering loyalty to Trump. He served in key roles during the president-elect’s first administration, including as a National Security Council official, senior adviser to the acting Director of National Intelligence, and chief of staff to the acting Secretary of Defense, The Post added.
While left-leaning media outlets have speculated that Kash Patel could face challenges securing Senate confirmation, some congressional insiders argue that his experience within the Justice Department and national security sectors makes him a formidable candidate. They also note that a shake-up at the FBI “might not be a bad thing.”
Other potential candidates for the FBI director position include former St. Louis U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Jensen, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and served until 2020. Jensen also brings firsthand experience from his decade-long tenure as an FBI agent from 1989 to 1999. Former Utah congressman and current Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz has also been mentioned as a contender, along with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, according to multiple sources who spoke with The Post.
Chaffetz, who left Congress in 2017, previously served as chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where he led high-profile investigations into federal agencies such as the Secret Service, Department of Education, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Office of Personnel Management. Bailey, a self-described “constitutional conservative,” was reportedly a top pick among some of Trump’s key advisers for the attorney general position, according to two sources who spoke with The Post. However, after that role was briefly offered to former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and later filled by ex-Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, discussions shifted toward considering Bailey for the FBI director position.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.