President Trump’s pick to be the next FBI director said Wednesday any effort to “tamper with” special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election would be “unacceptable and inappropriate.”
“Assuming that I can do it legally and appropriately, absolutely,” Christopher Wray told Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., when asked if he would notify the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation hearing of any such effort to interfere with the investigation.
Wray, who was a senior Justice Department official under former President George W. Bush, was nominated by President Trump last month to replace James Comey.
He later told Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., during questions he did not know why Trump fired Comey in May.
“In all my dealings with Jim Comey, he was a terrific lawyer, a dedicated public servant, and a wonderful colleague,” Wray said.
When asked what would happen if the president asked him to do something illegal, he was blunt.
“First I would try to talk him out of it, and if that failed, I would resign,” Wray replied.
