On Tuesday, the Senate has appointed Christopher Asher Wray (a former official from the Justice department of George W. Bush) as the new director of FBI, reported by CNN. He replaced James Comey, who was kicked off by President Trump for not investigating the Russian meddling in the last year elections very well. Trump also blamed him for losing the handling of the investigation into the use of private email server by Hillary Clinton.
Wray received 92-5 votes. The Democratic senators who voted against him are Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, Kirsten Gillibrand, Ed Markey, and Elizabeth Warren.
The committee of Senate Judiciary recommended his name on July 20. During the debate of Senate, Senator Amy Klobuchar (a Minnesota Democrat) said, “this is a tough time to take this tough job."
What did Wray say in the Senate committee hearing?
Wary has to work as the independent minded leader and should not depend on the president. During his confirmation hearing, he said that a relationship between a president and the director of FBI needs to be a professional one not social. He also added that if he would be asked to do do something illegal then he would resign. He also believed that Russia had interfered in the 2016 US elections. He also added that he should meet the president only in the important discussions related to the national security, the Vox reported.
Wray told the Judiciary panel that "my commitment is to the rule of law, to the Constitution, to follow the facts wherever they may lead." According to Chuck Grassley (the chairman of the Judiciary Committee), Wray will continue to investigate the Russia's interference in 2016 presidential elections.
Wray never worked within FBI but worked with FBI
Wray has a work experience of white-collar crime and worked under Bush's administration from 2003 to 2004. He has worked with the FBI but does not has experience while working within it. He also held many high-ranking Judicial department positions.
He worked under James Comey as an assistant attorney general from 2003 to 2005.
In 1997, he started working as an assistant United States Attorney for the northern district of Georgia and then he joined Justice department in 2001.
According to Dianne Feinstein (Democrat from California), Wray has the tendency and endurance to do right things during the tests. She also added that he will be a strong leader. The New Jersey governor, Chris Christie was represented by Wary in the scandal of Bridgegate.
