Christopher Wray had been FBI Director for four months, appointed after the President fired James Comey. In December 2017 he appeared before the House Judiciary Committee. Ranking Member Nadler began with a quotation from the President about who the Bureau answers to.
The chain of command
NadlerDirector Wray, I would like to ask you for your help putting events in the last few days into context. To set the stage, over the summer in an interview with the New York Times, President Trump stated, "When Nixon came along, out of courtesy the FBI started reporting to the Department of Justice. But the FBI person really reports directly to the President of the United States." Director Wray, you have one direct report to the Executive Branch. To whom do you directly report?
WrayI directly report to the Deputy Attorney General, who then reports to the Attorney General.
NadlerThank you. Has President Trump ever asked you to sidestep the chain of command and report directly to him?
WrayNo.
NadlerAlso over the summer, former Director Comey testified that during a private dinner President Trump told him, "I need loyalty. I expect loyalty." Has President Trump ever asked you for loyalty?
WrayI have never been asked by the President to take any kind of loyalty oath. My loyalty is to the Constitution, to the laws of this country, and to the, you know, the good men and people of America.
[Hearing transcript, December 7, 2017, questioning by Rep. Nadler.]
Whether anything is being sabotaged
Two officials had recently been removed from the Special Counsel’s team. Representative Jackson Lee wanted an assurance.
Jackson LeeI want it to be assured to the American people that Andrew Weissmann and Peter Strzok, who were removed from their posts, that that will not sabotage Bob Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's collusion with Russia. Their removal.
WrayI am sorry. I----
Jackson LeeThat their removal--Peter Strzok and Mr. Weissmann--will not sabotage Mueller's investigation into Russian collusion. Their removal from the investigation.
WrayI am not aware of any effort by anyone to sabotage--or less, even--Special Counsel Mueller's investigation.
[Hearing transcript, December 7, 2017, questioning by Rep. Jackson Lee.]
The same guy
Representative Jordan came at the same removal from the opposite direction, building his question one clause at a time.
JordanDirector, was Agent Peter Strzok the former deputy head of counterintelligence at the FBI?
WrayI do not remember his exact title, but I believe that is correct.
JordanAnd he is the same Peter Strzok who was a key player in the Clinton investigation, the same Peter Strzok who interviewed Cheryl Mills, Huma Abedin, participated in Secretary Clinton's interview, and he is also the same Peter Strzok who now, we know, changed Director Comey's exoneration letter--changed the term "gross negligence"--which is a crime--to "extreme carelessness." Is that the same guy?
WrayWell, Congressman, I do not know every step that the individual you mentioned was involved in. But certainly, I know that he was heavily involved in the Clinton email investigation.
JordanThank you. And is this the same Peter Strzok who was a key player in the Russian investigation and the same Peter Strzok who was put on Mueller's team, Special Counsel Bob Mueller's team?
WrayI certainly know that he was working on the special counsel's investigation. Whether or not he would be characterized as a key player on that investigation, that is really not for me to say.
JordanOkay. And the same Peter Strzok that we learned, this past weekend, was removed from the special counsel team because he exchanged text messages with a colleague at the FBI that displayed a pro-Clinton bias. Is that accurate?
WrayYes.
JordanWe are talking about the same guy.
WrayYes.
[Hearing transcript, December 7, 2017, questioning by Rep. Jordan.]
The warning
CohenWell, thank you. Benjamin Franklin said that he gave the American people a Republic, "if you can keep it." You are the heir to the legacy of Griffin Bell, having worked at King & Spalding. And you have an excellent reputation, if you can keep it. You will be tested. You will rise to the task, but you will be tested. I yield back the balance of my time.
[Hearing transcript, December 7, 2017, statement of Rep. Cohen.]