The FBI Agents Association defended FBI Director Christopher Wray ahead of an explosive congressional memo that allegedly accuses the agency of bias among its top officials.
“The FBI Agents Association appreciates FBI Director Chris Wray standing shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of the FBI as we work together to protect our country from criminal and national security threats,” the FBIAA said in a Thursday statement. “As Director Wray noted, FBI Special Agents have remained steadfast in their dedication to professionalism, and we remain focused on our important work to protect the country from terrorists and criminals — both domestic and international.”
The statement comes amid a CNN report that says top White House aides are worried Wray could quit if the classified memo — spearheaded by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif. — is made public.
According to the report, Wray’s stance is “raising hell” as President Trump appears poised to go against the FBI’s wishes and release the memo.
The GOP-majority committee voted to make the memo public Monday, giving Trump five days to explicitly object to its release or allow it to be made public.
After the White House received the classified memo Monday, it has undergone a review process that includes top intelligence officials.
It has been reported that at the request of those officials, redactions have been made to satisfy the FBI’s concerns. However, then there was the issue that the redactions would make the document inaccurate. A White House official said not many redactions are expected in the final document released to the public.
CNN reported that though Wray has not directly threatened to resign because of the memo, his departure could set off a chain reaction within the FBI.
NBC News reported later Thursday that Wray “no intention of quitting if controversial House Intel memo is released despite his objections.”
BREAKING: FBI Director Chris Wray has no intention of quitting if controversial House Intel memo is released despite his objections, @PeteWilliamsNBC reports
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) February 1, 2018
A senior White House official said Thursday afternoon that Trump is expected to tell Congress “probably tomorrow” that he is okay with releasing the memo.
“I doubt there will be any redactions. Then it is in Congress’ hands after that,” the official said, adding that the decision was made after reviewing it throughout the week and making sure “it doesn’t give away too much in terms of classification.”
