FBI chief Chris Wray defends bureau after Trump says its reputation is 'in tatters'
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President Trump weighs in on Twitter Sunday about ex-FBI Director James B. Comey and Michael Flynn.
WASHINGTON – FBI Director Christopher Wray offered a stirring defense of the agency on Thursday in the wake of rebukes from President Trump, who recently said the bureau’s reputation was “in tatters” and called its impartiality into question.Â
“It is the honor of my life to lead the FBI,” Wray told the House Judiciary Committee, the first time he has addressed Trump’s criticism in public. “There is no finer institution than the FBI and no finer people who work there.”
Without mentioning Trump by name, Wray said, “There is no shortage of opinions out there.Â
“The FBI I see are tens of thousands of agents who working their tails off,” he continued. “The FBI I see are tens of thousands of men and woman who are hard charging people of integrity.”Â
Asked directly how Trump’s criticism has affected FBI agents and their work, Wray said: “The agents, analysts and staff of the FBI are big boys and girls” who can handle criticism. However, he added, “my experience is that our reputation is quite good.”
Wray’s testimony came minutes after the Republican chairman of the panel launched into a scathing critique of the FBI, suggesting that the removal of a top counter-intelligence official from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election amounted to “insider bias” against Trump.Â
“The FBI’s reputation has been called into question,” Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte said, opening an oversight hearing. “You, Director Wray, have a unique opportunity to repair the damage.”
Justice Department officials acknowledged last week that FBI agent Peter Strzok, a top counter-intelligence official, was abruptly reassigned earlier this year from special counsel Robert Mueller team investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Strzok, who also helped run the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of State, was moved to the bureau’s human resources office.
His transfer came after Justice’s inspector general discovered Strzok and another FBI official previously assigned to Mueller’s team, Lisa Page, had exchanged communications critical of President Trump.Â
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Trump and his allies have jumped on the news in an attempt to discredit special counsel Mueller’s investigation, which is also looking into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and possible obstruction of justice by the president and his associates.
Last weekend, Trump said on Twitter that the bureau’s reputation “is in Tatters – worst in History!”Â
After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters – worst in History! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 3, 2017
House Republicans appeared to take up where Trump left off, closely questioning Wray about how he might address agents’ personal political affiliations and the risk of compromising ongoing investigations.
In the case of Strzok, the director said he was awaiting the outcome of the inspector general’s inquiry before he would address it publicly. He also suggested that he would consider sharing Strzok’s communications with the House members.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what (the inspector general) finds,” Wray said.
Earlier this week, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes directed his staff to prepare a contempt of Congress resolution against Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for “hiding” the agent’s alleged political bias against Trump.
A spokesman for Mueller said last week that Strzok was removed from the Russia inquiry “immediately” after the special counsel learned of the allegations. Page had completed her detail to Mueller’s inquiry before the office was made aware of the allegations.
The communications came to the attention of the inspector general during an ongoing inquiry into the handling of the Clinton email investigation by Justice and the FBI.
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