3 p.m.
The testimony from FBI Director Christopher Wray has concluded.
The sometimes contentious GOP allegations about the FBI’s politicization of the department brought sharp comments from both sides.
“The idea that I’m biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background,” said Wray, a registered Republican who was appointed by former President Donald Trump.
U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said trust is at an all-time low in the FBI.
“People trusted the FBI more when J. Edgar Hoover was running the place than when you are, and the reason is because you don’t give straight answers,” Gaetz said.
Wray responded: “Respectfully, congressman, in your home state of Florida, the number of people applying to come work for us and devote their lives working for us is over up over 100%.”
Gaetz fired back: “We’re deeply proud of them, and they deserve better than you.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray was pressed by U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) on the allegations that President Joe Biden took payments from foreign nationals while he was vice president.
Wray referred to an “ongoing investigation” by U.S. attorney for Delaware David Weiss. He directed questions to Weiss’ office.
“So the president is under investigation?” Tiffany asked.
“I’m not going to confirm or speak to who is or isn’t under investigation for what,” Wray replied.
“So he’s not under investigation?” Tiffany asked.
“I didn’t say that, either,” Wray said.
1:17 p.m.
FBI Director Christopher Wray disputed accusations on Wednesday that the agency has been politicized to protect President Joe Biden and discredit former President Donald Trump.
Wray said the FBI’s raid of Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida estate, in search of classified information was restrained and prompted by a court order.
Testifying before the House Judiciary Committee, Wray bristled at a Republican congressman’s suggestion that the FBI should be defunded.
“It would hurt American people, neighborhoods, and communities all across this country — the people we are protecting from cartels, violent criminals, gang members, predators, foreign and domestic terrorists, cyberattacks,” Wray said. “The people it would help would be those same violent gangs and cartels, foreign terrorists, Chinese spies, hackers and so forth.”
Wray responded to a question about documents being spread across Trump’s residence.
“There are specific rules about where to store classified information, and those need to be stored in a SCIF [Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility],” Wray said. “In my experience, ballrooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms are not SCIFs.”
12:30 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) asked Wray if he was protecting President Joe Biden by not investigating his son, Hunter.
“Absolutely not,” Wray responded.
Gaetz showed Wray a text message from Hunter Biden, allegedly to a Chinese business associate.
“I am sitting with my father, and we would like to understand why the commitment has not been fulfilled,” Hunter Biden wrote. “I am very concerned that [Ye] has either changed his mind and broken our deal without telling me or that he is unaware of the promises and assurances that have been made have not been kept.”
Gaetz called it a “shakedown.”
“You’re, like, blissfully ignorant,” Gaetz told Wray. “You’re blissfully ignorant as to the unlawful queries, you’re blissfully ignorant as to the Biden shakedown, and it just seems like it gets to a kind of a creepy place as well.”
10:30 a.m.
FBI Director Christopher Wray started testifying at 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C.
Republican House members are expected to ask him questions about investigations being conducted by the FBI. Many believe the agency has become political in some of its work, especially in investigating former President Donald Trump while allegedly treating President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, with kid gloves.
In his opening statement, Wray avoided any mention of the controversies surrounding the FBI, many of which were covered by The Dallas Express.
“I want to talk about the sheer breadth and impact of the work the FBI’s 38,000 employees are doing, each and every day,” Wray said. “Because the work the men and women of the FBI do to protect the American people goes way beyond the one or two investigations that seem to capture all the headlines.”
In an opening statement, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused the FBI of abusing its power. He said he hoped the House would block the reauthorization of a warrantless surveillance program known as Section 702 and delay the construction of a new FBI headquarters.
“I hope they will work with us in the appropriations process to stop the weaponization of the government against the American people and end this double standard that exists now in our justice system,” Jordan said.
Trump appointed Wray in 2017 after firing James Comey. Jordan said that fact had nothing to do with why he was called to Capitol Hill.
Jordan also mentioned a January document from the FBI that had to do with the agency looking into “extremism” in the Catholic Church. He said Wray approved plans “to put sources inside parishes, inside the Catholic Church, to snitch on parishioners.”
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said the hearing was “little more than performance art.” He said Republicans were asking for “baseless investigations” in a bid to “protect Donald Trump from the consequences of his actions.”