POOL

Washington - 12 July 2017

1. Hearing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Benjamin Sasse (R) Nebraska:

"When would it be appropriate and when would it be inappropriate for main justice and beyond, I mean particularly the White House, to be providing direction about FBI priorities and mind share and budget investments?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"Well I don't think the White House should be playing a role in prosecutorial decisions, period."

4. Hearing

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"You can't do a job like this without being prepared to quit or be fired at a moment's notice if you're asked to do something or confronted with something that is either illegal, unconstitutional, or even morally repugnant."

6. Hearing

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"My commitment is to the rule of law, to the Constitution, to follow the facts, wherever they may lead, and there isn't a person on this planet who's lobbying or influence could convince me to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation."

8. Hearing

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Al Franken, (D) Minnesota:

"And you don't think Director Comey is a nut job right?'

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"That's never been my experience with him."

(Sen. Al Franken, (D) Minnesota off camera): "Okay. I'm glad to hear that."

11. Hearing

U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to head the FBI says the White House should not be playing a role prosecutorial decisions.

At the Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday, nominee Christopher Wray insisted his commitment was to 'follow the facts wherever they may lead'.

"There isn't a person on this who's lobbying or influence could convince me to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation," said Wray.

Trump has repeatedly derided as a "hoax" and a "witch hunt" an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Robert Mueller, the former FBI director selected in May as the special counsel to oversee the probe.

Christopher Wray, the former high-ranking Justice Department official whom Trump nominated last month, also told senators at his confirmation hearing that he would never let politics get in the way of the bureau's mission.

Wray, selected for the FBI job last month after Trump fired James Comey, made clear that he disagreed with the characterization.