FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday rejected President Trump’s assessment that the FBI is “in tatters,” and defended the agency he was confirmed to lead in August.
“There’s no finer institution than the FBI and no finer people than those who work there and are its beating heart,” Wray said during an oversight hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
The FBI is composed of “hard-charging, high integrity people,” Wray said. “The FBI that I see is appreciated and respected.”
FBI Director Wray on Pres. Trump's criticism of the FBI: “What I can tell you is that the FBI that I see is tens of thousands of agents and analysts and staff working their tails off to keep Americans safe.” https://t.co/dG6M71hDsM pic.twitter.com/8xcUhMeVuW— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 7, 2017
On Sunday, Trump tweeted out that the agency’s standing is the “worst in history” and that its reputation is in “tatters.” He sent that tweet after news broke that one FBI official, Peter Strzok, was removed from the special counsel’s team looking at Russia’s influence in the election after it became clear he favored Hillary Clinton.
Wray’s response Thursday morning was his first public reply to Trump’s email. In an email message to the FBI’s 35,000 agents and staff, Wray said he was “inspired by example after example of professionalism and dedication to justice demonstrated around the bureau. It is truly an honor to represent you.”
