FBI chief Wray defends against US House Republicans' accusations
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[July 13, 2023]
By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - FBI Director Chris Wray rejected Republicans'
wide-ranging criticism at a congressional hearing on Wednesday that
targeted everything from the bureau's handling of a probe into Hunter
Biden to claims it encouraged social media companies to censor
conservative views.
Wray appeared before the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives
Judiciary Committee panel for the first time since former President
Donald Trump was indicted for retaining highly classified documents and
obstructing justice.
His appearance also marks the first time he has testified since
President Joe Biden's son Hunter was criminally charged with two
misdemeanor tax counts, while avoiding a felony gun charge through a
pretrial diversion agreement with prosecutors.
Republicans have repeatedly accused the FBI and other federal agencies
of "weaponizing" their law enforcement and regulatory powers to silence
critics on the right, target political enemies and protect political
allies.
House Republicans have claimed without evidence that the documents case
against Trump is politically motivated.
They have also pointed to testimony by an IRS whistleblower as proof
that the department interfered with the Hunter Biden probe - a claim
that both Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Trump-appointed U.S.
Attorney in charge of the probe have denied.
"Are you protecting the Bidens?" asked Republican Representative Matt
Gaetz.
"Absolutely not," replied Wray, a fellow Republican who has increasingly
become the target of Republicans' wrath.
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FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies
before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "oversight of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation" and alleged politicization of law
enforcement, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 12, 2023.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Several Republican lawmakers also grilled Wray about whether the
bureau pressures social media companies to silence conservative
views, after a Trump-appointed federal judge in Louisiana last week
sided with the Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and
Missouri and blocked the FBI and other federal agencies from
communicating with social media firms about moderating content on
their platforms.
The July 4 ruling from U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty found that
the Republican states were likely to prevail in their lawsuit to
prove that the Biden administration had "used its power to silence"
critics online who opposed everything from the 2020 election results
to COVID-19 vaccines.
Wray on Wednesday staunchly disagreed with the judge's ruling,
saying the Federal Bureau of Investigation is only focused on
combating foreign malign influence - and not free speech.
The Justice Department has since asked a federal appeals court to
stay the lower court's ruling pending appeal.
"The idea that I am biased against conservatives seems somewhat
insane to me, given my own personal background," Wray said.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone and Susan
Heavey)
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