James Rybicki, the chief of staff to former FBI Director James Comey and current Director Christopher Wray, is leaving his post, Fox News has learned.
He was not fired, according to federal law enforcement. He decided to leave on his own terms last month to go into the private sector. Wray confirmed the move.
"Jim Rybicki notified me last month that he will be leaving the FBI to accept an opportunity in the corporate sector,” Wray said in a statement. “While this is an exciting move for the whole Rybicki family, Jim will be dearly missed by the FBI family - and by me personally.”
Wray added: “His many years of dedication to the bureau and DOJ, his level-headed judgement and earnest professionalism, and his steady good cheer have been an asset to us all and have contributed greatly to the safety and security of our nation."
Attorney Zachary Harmon has been tapped to replace Rybicki.
The FBI has faced a crisis of credibility in the past several months, particularly after FBI Agent Peter Strzok was found to have sent seething anti-Trump texts to his mistress. Five months worth of those messages, from the Trump transition to the start of the Russia probe, are somehow missing. Attorney General Jeff Sessions pledged to do everything he can to recover them.
Strzok was a participant in both the Hillary Clinton email investigation and the special counsel probe into Russian collusion. He was removed from the latter.
Asked by the White House press corps Tuesday if FBI Director Christopher Wray had threatened to resign, President Trump said "not even a little bit."