Remarks prepared for delivery

First, I want to express my gratitude to both President Bush and to President Obama for giving me the honor and privilege of serving as FBI Director during this particular time in our nation’s history.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the men and women of the FBI. Through their hard work, their dedication, and their adaptability, the FBI is better able to predict and prevent terrorism and crime.

And of course I want to thank my wife and family for their support and their patience over the past 12 years.

Finally, I want to commend the president for his choice of James Comey as the next Director of the FBI.

I have had the opportunity to work with Jim at the Department of Justice over the years, and I have found him to be a man of honesty, dedication, and integrity. His experience, his judgment, and his strong sense of duty will benefit not only the Bureau, but the country as a whole.