In a heated exchange during a session of the House Judiciary Committee, FBI Director Christopher Wray vehemently denied allegations of protecting the Biden family while asserting that the agency remains apolitical. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz presented a text message purportedly sent by Hunter Biden to Chinese Communist Party official Henry Zhao, in which the president’s son allegedly demanded financial support for a business deal. Gaetz questioned Wray about the FBI’s intentions, suggesting a potential cover-up. Unfazed, Wray firmly denied any protective measures for the Bidens.
Gaetz continued to attack Wray, drawing attention to the FBI’s misuse of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This provision allows intelligence agencies to target foreign individuals, but sometimes results in unwarranted searches of American citizens. Gaetz accused the FBI of abusing this power, citing 204,000 queries conducted in 2022 alone, including searches related to January 6 protesters and Black Lives Matter demonstrators. Wray admitted to instances of disciplinary action for improper use of warrantless searches, acknowledging the need for reforms before the provision’s potential expiration.
Amidst the criticisms, Republican Representative Ken Buck expressed his concerns with FISA in a more measured tone, urging Wray to remain within the Republican Party. Buck acknowledged the FBI’s role in protecting Americans from foreign terrorists but sought clarifications on FISA-related issues.
Wray also pushed back against a range of other allegations made by Republicans, dismissing claims that the FBI was involved in the January 6th attack or colluded with social media companies to suppress information about COVID-19 origins. He highlighted the FBI’s independent assessment, which concluded it was highly probable that COVID-19 originated naturally. However, Representative Jim Jordan accused the FBI of censoring speech and collaborating with social media platforms, referencing a case in Missouri where a judge blocked contact between the White House, FBI, and social media companies.
In a separate line of questioning, Representative Andy Biggs inquired about the presence of undercover agents during the events of January 6. Wray initially stated uncertainty on the matter, later clarifying that he did not believe there were undercover agents present. Biggs probed further, questioning the existence of any assets in the crowd, to which Wray responded cautiously, citing ongoing court filings related to the topic.
Chairman Jim Jordan criticized the FBI’s handling of the Hunter Biden laptop case and its memorandum targeting traditionalist Catholic groups. He highlighted a memo titled ‘Interest of Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists in Radical Traditionalist Catholic Ideology Almost Certainly Presents New Mitigation Opportunities,’ which sparked controversy. Wray expressed dismay over the memo and assured that it was withdrawn and under investigation, emphasizing that the FBI does not infiltrate or target religious organizations.
Ranking Member Jerry Nadler criticized the hearing as a political performance aimed at protecting Donald Trump’s interests. Wray, however, warned against defunding the FBI, asserting that it would lead to an increase in violent criminals on the streets. He also endorsed the findings of special counsel John Durham’s report, which concluded that the FBI’s initiation of Operation Crossfire, the investigation into Trump-Russia collusion, was unjustified. Wray condemned the conduct outlined in the report and stated his commitment to preventing its recurrence, though he refrained from commenting on personnel matters under review.