Key Moments from the House Judiciary Hearing Featuring Christopher Wray
FBI Director Christopher Wray faced tough questioning from lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Here are some key moments from the hearing:
Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat Congresswoman and former Trump impeachment manager, accused Republicans of spreading baseless conspiracy theories to undermine the FBI's credibility. However, her claims ignore the extensive evidence of a censorship regime outlined in the Missouri v. Biden court opinion, the findings from the Twitter Files, and the long history of misconduct within the FBI.
Wray categorically denied allegations of undercover FBI involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, calling them ludicrous. When pressed for more information on the agency's confirmed involvement that day, Wray refused to answer, citing the need to protect confidential sources.
This is not the first time the FBI has avoided explaining its use of undercover informants during the Capitol riot.
Kentucky Republican Rep. Thomas Massie demanded answers from Wray regarding the agency's efforts to apprehend the suspected pipe bomber responsible for leaving devices at the RNC and DNC on January 6. Massie reminded Wray that it has been 900 days since the bombs were discovered and criticized the FBI's reluctance to provide updates.
Wray defended the FBI's relationship with the Security Service of Ukraine, a Russian-infiltrated intelligence agency involved in censoring American speech. Despite the Ukrainian agency's compromised status, Wray referred to them as a "longstanding good partner" of the FBI. A recent report from the House Judiciary's Select Subcommittee revealed collusion between the FBI and the Ukrainian agency in flagging social media posts for censorship.
During the hearing, Wray admitted to surveillance of Catholic parishes, a revelation that drew criticism from House Republicans. They questioned whether it was appropriate for the FBI to use priests as informants within the church. Wray acknowledged the possibility of deploying resources to monitor Catholic parishes but insisted that no investigative action resulted from the episode in Richmond.
Wray acknowledged the routine cooperation between the FBI and American financial institutions in surveilling U.S. citizens. A whistleblower had previously revealed that the FBI obtained a vast amount of Americans' financial records without legal process, specifically targeting transactions near the Capitol around the time of the January 6 riot. Wray justified this practice, stating that financial institutions sharing information with law enforcement is lawful.
Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy raised concerns about the FBI's armed raid and arrest of a Christian pro-life activist named Mark Houck. Roy criticized Wray for not questioning the judgment of the agents involved in the raid, despite Houck being acquitted of all charges later on.
Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz accused the FBI of protecting the Biden family and engaging in double standards of justice. Gaetz cited IRS whistleblowers who claimed that the FBI withheld critical records implicating President Biden and Hunter Biden in a bribery scheme. Wray vehemently denied these accusations.
California Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley asked Wray whether the Justice Department should rescind a memo instructing staff to surveil parents expressing concerns at school board meetings. House Republicans had previously criticized the Biden administration for deploying counterterrorism resources against parents without legitimate justification. Wray avoided giving a direct answer, deferring the decision to the attorney general.
