Paul Abbate
Paul M. Abbate | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967 |
| Occupation | Law enforcement official |
| Years active | 1996–2025 |
| Known for | Acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (January 19–20, 2025); Deputy Director of the FBI (2021–2025); Associate Deputy Director of the FBI (2018–2021) |
Paul M. Abbate (born 1967) is a former American law enforcement official who briefly held the position of acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from January 19 to January 20, 2025, following the resignation of Christopher A. Wray. He served as the deputy director from 2021 until his retirement on January 20, 2025, having previously been the associate deputy director between 2018 and 2021.
Abbate earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and began his tenure with the FBI in March 1996. His initial assignment was at the New York City Field Office, where he worked within the Criminal Division and participated as a member of the SWAT team. In 2012, he advanced to become Special Agent in Charge of the Counterterrorism Division, overseeing FBI missions during deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya.
After President Trump dismissed James Comey in 2017, Abbate was among those considered for the FBI director role. He was appointed associate deputy director in February 2018, then elevated to deputy director in February 2021. Abbate retired soon after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 57 but remained temporarily with Director Wray’s consent following Wray’s retirement. Upon Abbate’s departure, Acting Attorney General James McHenry designated Robert Kissane as acting deputy director.
FBI Richmond Catholic memo
A report by the House Judiciary Committee revealed that Deputy Director Abbate directed the complete removal of the FBI Richmond Catholic memo and all associated references from FBI databases in February 2023 after it was leaked publicly. This action led to congressional oversight investigations.
Awards
In 2020, Abbate was recognized by Security Magazine as one of its "Most Influential People in Security," one of only 22 individuals honored.
External links
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