FBI Director Rejects Allegations of Political Bias in Office

FBI Director Christopher Wray Wednesday defended the FBI against Republican accusations of political bigotry and the family of Democratic President Joe Biden while pursuing former Republican President Donald Trump and other conservatives. He dismissed the claim of “protection”.

During a heated hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. and staunch Trump supporter Matt Gates asked Mr. Wray if he was “protecting the Bidens.” I objected.

“The FBI is not interested in defending anyone politically,” Mr. Wray said.

The hearing will be Wray’s first appearance on an oversight committee since Republicans won the House after the 2022 midterm elections.

Appointed by Trump and retained by Biden, Wray has become a lightning rod for Republican criticism that the Biden administration has “weaponized” the FBI and the Justice Department against political opponents.

Especially since the FBI conducted a raid on President Trump’s Florida residence last August as part of an investigation into the former president’s mishandling of classified documents after he left the White House in 2021. has come under increasing criticism over the past year.

The unprecedented raid that led to Trump’s indictment last month has strengthened Republicans’ claims that the FBI is trying to catch him.

Republican criticism of the FBI is not limited to the Mar-a-Lago investigation. At Wednesday’s hearing, Republicans laid bare their longstanding grievances with the FBI. They range from the agency’s alleged failure to investigate corruption allegations against the Biden family, to the FBI’s tendency to target pro-life activists and collaborate with social media companies for “censorship.” conservative speech.

A long-time Republican, Mr. Wray dismissed the notion that he was hostile to conservatives.

“Given my own personal background, the idea that I’m biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane,” Ray said.

In his prepared testimony, Wray highlighted the FBI’s significant investigations and national security efforts, including the arrest of more than 20,000 violent criminals and child predators, and investigations into cartels and rogue Chinese activities. emphasized.

But those highlights were forgotten along the way, as the hearings have become a common partisan display on the House Judiciary Committee in recent years.

The commission’s Republican chairman, Jim Jordan, who is an avid Trump supporter and lives in Ohio, said the United States has a “two-tiered justice system.”

“It’s ridiculous that House Republicans attack the FBI and the Department of Justice and ensure that no one is above the law,” said Democratic leader Jerry Nadler on the committee. .

Republicans, angered by what they see as “politicization” of the FBI, have threatened to “defund” the agency. But Ray warned that cutting funding for the agency would have disastrous consequences.

“There will be hundreds more thugs on the streets,” he said in response to a question. “Dozens more violent gangs are terrorizing communities. Hundreds more child molesters are on the loose. Left at the mercy of the Chinese Communist Party Numerous threats left unmitigated Hundreds of ransomware attacks left unmitigated Jedi-inspired terrorist attacks and domestic Terrorist attacks by both violent extremists will not be stopped and will succeed against the American people.”