Sen. Charles E. Grassley criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray for failing in his duties, accusing him of showing “disdain” for congressional oversight and breaking promises of transparency.

Grassley, poised to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee when Republicans take control, called for reform and expressed hope that Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, would restore public trust in the bureau, The Washington Times reported.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, has long been critical of the FBI, citing issues like abuse of power, election interference, discrimination, and the mishandling of investigations.

Wray’s term as FBI boss is up in three years, and he must be fired or resigned to be replaced.

Patel, a close ally of Trump, has held senior positions in the Trump administration, including at the Defense Department and the National Security Council, and is now nominated to replace Wray, as reported by The Dallas Express.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will question Patel before a full Senate vote on his nomination. Wray, appointed by Trump in 2017, has faced Republican criticism for the FBI’s handling of investigations into events like the January 6 Capitol riot, the raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, and other controversial probes.

Trump praised Patel as a dedicated investigator and defender of justice, emphasizing his “America First” approach.

The FBI’s strained relationship with Trump dates back to its 2016 Crossfire Hurricane investigation, delving into alleged links between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

This tension escalated when Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey in 2017, leading to a special counsel investigation by Robert Mueller.

Mueller’s probe ultimately found no evidence of collusion between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.