FBI director nominee Christopher Wray says he would lead the agency "without fear, without favoritism and certainly without regard to political influence."

Wray's statement came after Sen. Chuck Grassley asked how he viewed the independence of the FBI and its director. He says the American public rightly expects that commitment.

He says there's only one right way to lead the FBI, and that's with "strict independence" and by being faithful to the Constitution.

Some lawmakers will want assurances that he will be able to be independent from the White House after President Donald Trump is said to have asked for a loyalty pledge before firing former director James Comey.

Wray also testified that attempts to tamper with a special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling would be "unacceptable."

Wray's comments came under questioning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein about special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

During questioning from Sen. Feinstein, Wray says he also never discussed Comey or his abrupt dismissal with the Justice Department or the FBI.

Wray says the issue only came up once, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told him he had appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. That happened after Comey's firing.

POOL

Washington - 12 July 2017

1. Various of Christopher Wray appearing at confirmation hearing for FBI director

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

"I believe to my core that there's only one right way to do this job and that is with strict independence by the book, playing it straight, faithful to the constitution, faithful to our laws and faithful to the best practices of the institution, without fear, without favoritism and certainly without regard to any partisan political influence. That's the commitment that I brought to my years to duty as a line prosecutor, that's the commitment that I brought to my time as the head of the criminal division, that's the commitment that I think the American people rightly respect of the FBI director. That's the commitment I would make to this committee and the country, if confirmed. And I have way, way, way too much respect and affection frankly for the men and women of the FBI to do anything less than that. And I would just say anybody who thinks that I would be pulling punches as the FBI Director sure doesn't know me very well."

3. Sen. Dianne Feinstein asking Wray if he discussed firing of former FBI Director James Comey with anyone at White House

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

"Sen. Feinstein, I did not discuss those topics at all with anyone in the White House. My only discussion at all was Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein making the observation to me at the time that I was first contacted about this position by him, by Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein was that now Special Counsel Mueller had been appointed to deal with that issue and that that in effect made for a better landscape for me to consider taking on this position."

5. Feinstein asking question

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

"My view is that torture is wrong. It's unacceptable. It's illegal and I think it's ineffective. Second, let me say that I know ... Both of my predecessors, Director Comey and Director Mueller, had a policy which I think is the right policy and I would expect to continue, that the FBI is going to play no part in the use of any techniques of that sort."

7. Various of hearing

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

"I'm very committed to supporting Director Mueller in the special counsel investigation in whatever way is appropriate for me to do that. I worked closely with Director Mueller in my past government service. I view him as the consummate straight shooter and someone who I have enormous respect for and I would be pleased to do what I can to support him in his mission."

9. Sen. Feinstein asking question UPSOUND: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California: "What I'm asking is if you learn about any machinations to tamper with that (special counsel probe) that you let this committee know. (Understood.) If you want to say more, I'm happy to hear. "

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

"I would consult with the appropriate officials. Anytime talking to this committee, I would consult with the appropriate officials to make sure that I'm not jeopardizing the investigation or anything like that but I would consider an effort to tamper with Director Mueller's investigation to be unacceptable and inappropriate and would need to be dealt with very sternly and appropriately, indeed."

11. Various of hearing

FBI director nominee Christopher Wray says he would lead the agency "without fear, without favoritism and certainly without regard to political influence."

Wray's statement came after Sen. Chuck Grassley asked how he viewed the independence of the FBI and its director. He says the American public rightly expects that commitment.

He says there's only one right way to lead the FBI, and that's with "strict independence" and by being faithful to the Constitution.

Some lawmakers will want assurances that he will be able to be independent from the White House after President Donald Trump is said to have asked for a loyalty pledge before firing former director James Comey.

Wray also testified that attempts to tamper with a special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling would be "unacceptable."

Wray's comments came under questioning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein about special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

During questioning from Sen. Feinstein, Wray says he also never discussed Comey or his abrupt dismissal with the Justice Department or the FBI.

Wray says the issue only came up once, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told him he had appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. That happened after Comey's firing.

POOL

Washington - 12 July 2017

1. Various of Christopher Wray appearing at confirmation hearing for FBI director

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

"I believe to my core that there's only one right way to do this job and that is with strict independence by the book, playing it straight, faithful to the constitution, faithful to our laws and faithful to the best practices of the institution, without fear, without favoritism and certainly without regard to any partisan political influence. That's the commitment that I brought to my years to duty as a line prosecutor, that's the commitment that I brought to my time as the head of the criminal division, that's the commitment that I think the American people rightly respect of the FBI director. That's the commitment I would make to this committee and the country, if confirmed. And I have way, way, way too much respect and affection frankly for the men and women of the FBI to do anything less than that. And I would just say anybody who thinks that I would be pulling punches as the FBI Director sure doesn't know me very well."

3. Sen. Dianne Feinstein asking Wray if he discussed firing of former FBI Director James Comey with anyone at White House

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

"Sen. Feinstein, I did not discuss those topics at all with anyone in the White House. My only discussion at all was Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein making the observation to me at the time that I was first contacted about this position by him, by Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein was that now Special Counsel Mueller had been appointed to deal with that issue and that that in effect made for a better landscape for me to consider taking on this position."

5. Feinstein asking question

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

"My view is that torture is wrong. It's unacceptable. It's illegal and I think it's ineffective. Second, let me say that I know ... Both of my predecessors, Director Comey and Director Mueller, had a policy which I think is the right policy and I would expect to continue, that the FBI is going to play no part in the use of any techniques of that sort."

7. Various of hearing

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

"I'm very committed to supporting Director Mueller in the special counsel investigation in whatever way is appropriate for me to do that. I worked closely with Director Mueller in my past government service. I view him as the consummate straight shooter and someone who I have enormous respect for and I would be pleased to do what I can to support him in his mission."

9. Sen. Feinstein asking question UPSOUND: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California: "What I'm asking is if you learn about any machinations to tamper with that (special counsel probe) that you let this committee know. (Understood.) If you want to say more, I'm happy to hear. "

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

"I would consult with the appropriate officials. Anytime talking to this committee, I would consult with the appropriate officials to make sure that I'm not jeopardizing the investigation or anything like that but I would consider an effort to tamper with Director Mueller's investigation to be unacceptable and inappropriate and would need to be dealt with very sternly and appropriately, indeed."

11. Various of hearing

FBI director nominee Christopher Wray says he would lead the agency "without fear, without favoritism and certainly without regard to political influence."

Wray's statement came after Sen. Chuck Grassley asked how he viewed the independence of the FBI and its director. He says the American public rightly expects that commitment.

He says there's only one right way to lead the FBI, and that's with "strict independence" and by being faithful to the Constitution.

Some lawmakers will want assurances that he will be able to be independent from the White House after President Donald Trump is said to have asked for a loyalty pledge before firing former director James Comey.

Wray also testified that attempts to tamper with a special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling would be "unacceptable."

Wray's comments came under questioning by Sen. Dianne Feinstein about special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

During questioning from Sen. Feinstein, Wray says he also never discussed Comey or his abrupt dismissal with the Justice Department or the FBI.

Wray says the issue only came up once, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told him he had appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. That happened after Comey's firing.

POOL

Washington,D.C. - 12 July 2017

1. Wide of Christopher Wray appearing at confirmation hearing for FBI director

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

"I believe to my core that there's only one right way to do this job and that is with strict independence by the book, playing it straight, faithful to the Constitution, faithful to our laws and faithful to the best practices of the institution, without fear, without favoritism and certainly without regard to any partisan political influence. That's the commitment that I brought to my years to duty as a line prosecutor, that's the commitment that I brought to my time as the head of the criminal division, that's the commitment that I think the American people rightly expect of the FBI director. That's the commitment I would make to this committee and the country, if confirmed. And I have way, way, way too much respect and affection frankly for the men and women of the FBI to do anything less than that. And I would just say anybody who thinks that I would be pulling punches as the FBI Director sure doesn't know me very well."

3. Sen. Dianne Feinstein asking Wray if he discussed firing of former FBI Director James Comey with anyone at White House

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

"Sen. Feinstein, I did not discuss those topics at all with anyone in the White House. My only discussion at all was Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein making the observation to me at the time that I was first contacted about this position by him, by Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein was that now Special Counsel Mueller had been appointed to deal with that issue and that that in effect made for a better landscape for me to consider taking on this position."

5. Feinstein asking question

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

"My view is that torture is wrong. It's unacceptable. It's illegal and I think it's ineffective. Second, let me say that I know ... Both of my predecessors, Director Comey and Director Mueller, had a policy which I think is the right policy and I would expect to continue, that the FBI is going to play no part in the use of any techniques of that sort."

7. Various of hearing

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

"I'm very committed to supporting Director Mueller in the special counsel investigation in whatever way is appropriate for me to do that. I worked closely with Director Mueller in my past government service. I view him as the consummate straight shooter and someone who I have enormous respect for and I would be pleased to do what I can to support him in his mission."

9. Sen. Feinstein asking question UPSOUND: (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California: "What I'm asking is if you learn about any machinations to tamper with that (special counsel probe) that you let this committee know. (Wray: Understood.) If you want to say more, I'm happy to hear. "

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

"I would consult with the appropriate officials. Anytime talking to this committee, I would consult with the appropriate officials to make sure that I'm not jeopardizing the investigation or anything like that but I would consider an effort to tamper with Director Mueller's investigation to be unacceptable and inappropriate and would need to be dealt with very sternly and appropriately, indeed."

11. Various of hearing

The FBI is determined to not repeat any of the mistakes identified in a harshly critical watchdog report on the handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, Director Chris Wray said Monday at a congressional hearing.

Wray said the FBI accepts the findings of the Justice Department inspector general report and has begun making changes, including about how the FBI handles especially sensitive investigations. The bureau is also reinforcing for employees the need to avoid the appearance of political bias, a key point of criticism in last week's report.

"We're going to learn from the report and be better as a result," Wray said.

The report blasted FBI actions during the 2016 investigation into whether Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, had mishandled classified information on her private email server when she was secretary of state.

It said anti-Donald Trump text messages exchanged by FBI employees who worked on the investigation cast a cloud on the agency's handling of the probe and damaged its reputation. It also said that fired FBI Director James Comey repeatedly broke from protocol, including when he publicly announced his recommendation against charging Clinton and when he bucked the judgment of Justice Department bosses by alerting Congress months later that the investigation was being reopened because of newly discovered emails.

But the report found that the July 2016 decision to spare Clinton from criminal charges was not tainted by political bias or considerations.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who joined Wray at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Monday, said there are lessons to be learned from the 500-page report, including about respecting an institution's hierarchy and norms.

POOL

Washington - 18 June 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa:

"The Justice Department faces a serious credibility problem because millions of Americans suspect that there is a double standard. They see a story of kid glove treatment for one side and bare knuckle tactics for the other."

2. Wide of hearing

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa:

"Director Wray has quite a mess to clean up. I think he probably knows that. The department has serious accountability issues. In scandal after scandal, accountability is the exception rather than the rule."

4. Wide of hearing

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"While the report is highly critical of Director Comey, it did not find that it was biased against President Trump or in favor of Secretary Clinton, as some have alleged."

6. Wide of hearing

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"Throughout the Clinton investigation, Republicans in Congress demanded information from Director Comey and the Justice Department under subpoena and threat of contempt. Today, they are doing the same thing with special counsel Mueller's investigation. It was wrong then and it's wrong now."

8. Wide of Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray swearing in

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Horowitz, Department of Justice Inspector General:

"As detailed in our report, we found that the inappropriate political messages we uncovered cast a cloud over the media investigation, sowed doubt about the credibility of the FBI's handling of it and impacted the reputation of the FBI."

10. Wide of hearing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Horowitz, Department of Justice Inspector General:

"With regard to the decision to close the investigation without prosecution, we found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were the result of improper considerations, including political bias, but rather were exercises of prosecutorial discretion by the prosecutors based on their assessment of the facts of the law and past department practice."

12. Wide of Horowitz and Wray

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"Although the report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations ultimately impacting the investigation under review, the report did identify errors of judgment, violations of or disregard for policy and decisions that at least in the benefit of hindsight, were certainly not the best choices."

14. Wide of Horowitz and Wray

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"The OIG's report makes clear that we have significant work to do. And as I said, we're going to learn from the report and be better as a result. At the same time, I want to emphasize that this report is focused on a specific set of events back in 2016 and a small number of FBI employees connected with those events. Mistakes made by those employees do not define our 37,000 men and women and the great work they do everyday. Nothing in this report impugns the integrity of our workforce as a whole or the FBI as an institution. I want to be very clear with this committee about the FBI that I've been able to see up close every day in the 10 months since my confirmation hearing before you all."

16. UPSOUND (English) Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D) Vermont:

"Do you have any reason to believe that this investigation has been discredited?"

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"Senator, as I said to you last month and as I said before, I do not believe special counsel Mueller is on a witch hunt."

18. Wide of Horowitz and Wray

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"What I can tell you is that I cannot imagine a situation in which I would unilaterally assume for myself, as the FBI director, a charging decision and then announce it in a news conference."

20. Wide of hearing

The FBI is determined to not repeat any of the mistakes identified in a harshly critical watchdog report on the handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, Director Chris Wray said Monday at a congressional hearing.

Wray said the FBI accepts the findings of the Justice Department inspector general report and has begun making changes, including about how the FBI handles especially sensitive investigations. The bureau is also reinforcing for employees the need to avoid the appearance of political bias, a key point of criticism in last week's report.

"We're going to learn from the report and be better as a result," Wray said.

The report blasted FBI actions during the 2016 investigation into whether Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, had mishandled classified information on her private email server when she was secretary of state.

It said anti-Donald Trump text messages exchanged by FBI employees who worked on the investigation cast a cloud on the agency's handling of the probe and damaged its reputation. It also said that fired FBI Director James Comey repeatedly broke from protocol, including when he publicly announced his recommendation against charging Clinton and when he bucked the judgment of Justice Department bosses by alerting Congress months later that the investigation was being reopened because of newly discovered emails.

But the report found that the July 2016 decision to spare Clinton from criminal charges was not tainted by political bias or considerations.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who joined Wray at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Monday, said there are lessons to be learned from the 500-page report, including about respecting an institution's hierarchy and norms.

POOL

Washington - 18 June 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa:

"The Justice Department faces a serious credibility problem because millions of Americans suspect that there is a double standard. They see a story of kid glove treatment for one side and bare knuckle tactics for the other."

2. Wide of hearing

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa:

"Director Wray has quite a mess to clean up. I think he probably knows that. The department has serious accountability issues. In scandal after scandal, accountability is the exception rather than the rule."

4. Wide of hearing

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"While the report is highly critical of Director Comey, it did not find that it was biased against President Trump or in favor of Secretary Clinton, as some have alleged."

6. Wide of hearing

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"Throughout the Clinton investigation, Republicans in Congress demanded information from Director Comey and the Justice Department under subpoena and threat of contempt. Today, they are doing the same thing with special counsel Mueller's investigation. It was wrong then and it's wrong now."

8. Wide of Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and FBI Director Christopher Wray swearing in

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Horowitz, Department of Justice Inspector General:

"As detailed in our report, we found that the inappropriate political messages we uncovered cast a cloud over the media investigation, sowed doubt about the credibility of the FBI's handling of it and impacted the reputation of the FBI."

10. Wide of hearing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Horowitz, Department of Justice Inspector General:

"With regard to the decision to close the investigation without prosecution, we found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were the result of improper considerations, including political bias, but rather were exercises of prosecutorial discretion by the prosecutors based on their assessment of the facts of the law and past department practice."

12. Wide of Horowitz and Wray

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"Although the report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations ultimately impacting the investigation under review, the report did identify errors of judgment, violations of or disregard for policy and decisions that at least in the benefit of hindsight, were certainly not the best choices."

14. Wide of Horowitz and Wray

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"The OIG's report makes clear that we have significant work to do. And as I said, we're going to learn from the report and be better as a result. At the same time, I want to emphasize that this report is focused on a specific set of events back in 2016 and a small number of FBI employees connected with those events. Mistakes made by those employees do not define our 37,000 men and women and the great work they do everyday. Nothing in this report impugns the integrity of our workforce as a whole or the FBI as an institution. I want to be very clear with this committee about the FBI that I've been able to see up close every day in the 10 months since my confirmation hearing before you all."

16. UPSOUND (English) Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D) Vermont:

"Do you have any reason to believe that this investigation has been discredited?"

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"Senator, as I said to you last month and as I said before, I do not believe special counsel Mueller is on a witch hunt."

18. Wide of Horowitz and Wray

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"What I can tell you is that I cannot imagine a situation in which I would unilaterally assume for myself, as the FBI director, a charging decision and then announce it in a news conference."

20. Wide of hearing

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus099289

The FBI is determined to not repeat any of the mistakes identified in a harshly critical watchdog report on the handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, Director Chris Wray said Monday at a congressional hearing.

Wray said the FBI accepts the findings of the Justice Department inspector general report and has begun making changes, including about how the FBI handles especially sensitive investigations. The bureau is also reinforcing for employees the need to avoid the appearance of political bias, a key point of criticism in last week's report.

"We're going to learn from the report and be better as a result," Wray said.

The report blasted FBI actions during the 2016 investigation into whether Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, had mishandled classified information on her private email server when she was secretary of state.

It said anti-Donald Trump text messages exchanged by FBI employees who worked on the investigation cast a cloud on the agency's handling of the probe and damaged its reputation. It also said that fired FBI Director James Comey repeatedly broke from protocol, including when he publicly announced his recommendation against charging Clinton and when he bucked the judgment of Justice Department bosses by alerting Congress months later that the investigation was being reopened because of newly discovered emails.

But the report found that the July 2016 decision to spare Clinton from criminal charges was not tainted by political bias or considerations.

Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who joined Wray at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Monday, said there are lessons to be learned from the 500-page report, including about respecting an institution's hierarchy and norms.

POOL

Washington - 18 June 2018

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa:

"The Justice Department faces a serious credibility problem because millions of Americans suspect that there is a double standard. They see a story of kid glove treatment for one side and bare knuckle tactics for the other."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa:

"Director Wray has quite a mess to clean up. I think he probably knows that. The department has serious accountability issues. In scandal after scandal, accountability is the exception rather than the rule."

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

"Although the report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations ultimately impacting the investigation under review, the report did identify errors of judgment, violations of or disregard for policy and decisions that at least in the benefit of hindsight, were certainly not the best choices."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"The OIG's report makes clear that we have significant work to do. And as I said, we're going to learn from the report and be better as a result. At the same time, I want to emphasize that this report is focused on a specific set of events back in 2016 and a small number of FBI employees connected with those events. Mistakes made by those employees do not define our 37,000 men and women and the great work they do everyday. Nothing in this report impugns the integrity of our workforce as a whole or the FBI as an institution. I want to be very clear with this committee about the FBI that I've been able to see up close every day in the 10 months since my confirmation hearing before you all."

5. UPSOUND (English) Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D) Vermont:

"Do you have any reason to believe that this investigation has been discredited?"

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director:

"Senator, as I said to you last month and as I said before, I do not believe special counsel Mueller is on a witch hunt."

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

"What I can tell you is that I cannot imagine a situation in which I would unilaterally assume for myself, as the FBI director, a charging decision and then announce it in a news conference."