Wray: “facts and law” push investigations not “partisan preferences.”
CBS News anchor Scott Pelley asked outgoing FBI director Christopher Wray whether he’s worried Kash Patel will “turn the FBI” on him under Donald Trump.
Patel is Trump nominee to replace Wray as director of the FBI. Wray announced last month he intends to resign before Trump enters office. Back in 2017, Trump appointed Wray to lead the agency after firing James Comey.
Wray joined Pelley for an interview on 60 Minutes where the host pointed out that Patel has referred to him as a “government gangster.” Patel has also vowed to prosecute journalists and fire top ranking FBI officials.
The director responded to Pelley’s questioning by claiming that “facts and law” push investigations not “partisan preferences.”
PELLEY: He calls you a “government gangster.” Are you concerned that they would turn the FBI on you?
WRAY: You know, I’m not gonna weigh in on specific people or their rhetoric. From where I sit, facts and the law drive investigations, not politics or partisan preferences.
PELLEY: …He’s saying that Christopher Wray is corrupt—out to sabotage the country.
WRAY: Listen, I’m accustomed to people expressing all sorts of opinions about me, just like about everything else. I can tell you that– I have been my whole life, my whole adult life, a conservative Republican, more importantly, a strict, by-the-book law enforcement professional I do take very seriously attacks against our people in the FBI. And I will tell you that the FBI that I see every single day is 38,000 career law enforcement professionals. Not one of them is a political appointee. Not one of ’em. And they tackle the job with a level of rigor, and tenacity, and professionalism, and objectivity that I think is unparalleled. And I will tell you it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve with them.
Patel is Trump nominee to replace Wray as director of the FBI. Wray announced last month he intends to resign before Trump enters office. Back in 2017, Trump appointed Wray to lead the agency after firing James Comey.
Wray joined Pelley for an interview on 60 Minutes where the host pointed out that Patel has referred to him as a “government gangster.” Patel has also vowed to prosecute journalists and fire top ranking FBI officials.
The director responded to Pelley’s questioning by claiming that “facts and law” push investigations not “partisan preferences.”
PELLEY: He calls you a “government gangster.” Are you concerned that they would turn the FBI on you?
WRAY: You know, I’m not gonna weigh in on specific people or their rhetoric. From where I sit, facts and the law drive investigations, not politics or partisan preferences.
PELLEY: …He’s saying that Christopher Wray is corrupt—out to sabotage the country.
WRAY: Listen, I’m accustomed to people expressing all sorts of opinions about me, just like about everything else. I can tell you that– I have been my whole life, my whole adult life, a conservative Republican, more importantly, a strict, by-the-book law enforcement professional I do take very seriously attacks against our people in the FBI. And I will tell you that the FBI that I see every single day is 38,000 career law enforcement professionals. Not one of them is a political appointee. Not one of ’em. And they tackle the job with a level of rigor, and tenacity, and professionalism, and objectivity that I think is unparalleled. And I will tell you it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve with them.
