Analysis | 5 takeaways from FBI nominee Wray’s principled confirmation hearing

The Washington Post ^ | July 12, 2017 | Amber Phillips

[Pinkbell]

Wray's task Wednesday was to convince the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will vote to send his nomination to the full Senate for approval, that he'd rather get fired than bend to political pressure. And he attempted to do just that. Here are four key takeaways from the hearing:

1) Trump could fire Wray, too.

(Snip)

2) Wray said he'd probably resign first if things got really sticky Trump's firing of Comey because of “this Russia thing” spooked members of Congress.

(Snip)

3) Wray and Trump are polar opposites on some big issues Trump thinks torture works; Wray thinks torture is “wrong” and “ineffective.”

Trump thinks the investigation into him and his presidential campaign is “the greatest Witch Hunt of a politician in American history. Sad!” Wray said he does “not consider Director Mueller to be on a witch hunt. "

Trump's allies have tried to discredit Mueller as Trump has toyed with firing him; Wray says Mueller is a “consummate straight shooter.”

Trump won't say whether Russia alone meddled in the U.S. election; Wray says he has “no reason whatsoever to doubt the assessment of the intelligence community” that Russia did meddle.

Trump thinks Comey was a “nut job;” Wray doesn't: “In all my dealing with Jim Comey, he was a terrific lawyer, a dedicated public servant and a wonderful colleague.” Trump shared highly classified information with Russians; Wray says it'd be extremely dangerous to share classified information that could put U.S. sources abroad at risk.

4) Wray thinks the Trump administration should have handled its Russia interactions differently Wray wouldn't comment specifically on news that Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer to get dirt on Hillary Clinton.

But he did underscore that it was probably not a good idea by saying two things in particular:

[SgtHooper]

Whoever suggests these people should be fired!!!!

[stylin19a]

Wray says it'd be extremely dangerous to share classified information that could put U.S. sources abroad at risk.

would that include telling the world how many nukes you have ?

[VA40]

Thank you. When the hell did Trump share highly classified information with Russians??

[Pinkbell]

That’s my line of thinking as well. I’m happiest when they are ranting and raving with a plethora of angry hit pieces.

[Pinkbell]

I wanted Rudy.

[shalom aleichem]

probably Rinse or in the case of judicial appointments and FBI director maybe Sessions

[Boomer]

Why was this Wray guy ever nominated for this position to start with if he can’t see the obvious.

It’s clear he’s all wrong for the job. Maybe he had to say those things to get through the nomination process but I don’t think so. He sounds like another corrupt leftist bureaucrat to me.

[going hot]

Prez Trump ought to pick someone who will flip the bird to the dem senators, tell the rest of them to eff off, and spit on them, and then storm out of the hearing because that is a waste of his time.

Oh yeah, that would make good vid for the Sunday pm news.

However, he just might not get out of committee.

Or the Prez could nominate someone who keeps their powder dry until needed.

Woe is me, can't figure out what the prez is doing!

[Fantasywriter]

You are missing the key difference between Gorsuch, Wray and Mueller. Trump picked the first two. He had nothing to do with selecting Mueller.

[billyboy15]

Now maybe these are things he has to say to get through confirmation,

************************************************************

Exactly right. If he were to say the things we would love to hear, such as Mueller is on a with hunt, etc his chances of being confirmed would be ZERO.

[trebb]

Can’t judge him by what he tells the senate committee - any conservative, rational person who gave them all his real views would never be confirmed.....like he said - Trump could fire him so I’ll back him and not worry about him for now.

[Sooth2222]

Wray joined King & Spalding in 2005 as a litigation partner in the firm's Washington, D.C. and Atlanta offices. Wray represented several Fortune 100 companies and chaired the King & Spalding Special Matters and Government Investigations Practice Group.[2] During his time at King & Spalding, Wray acted as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's personal attorney during the Bridgegate scandal.[11][12] During the scandal, defense attorneys for a pair of Christie's inner circle sought access to Christie's missing cellphone.[13] Two years later, Christie's spokesman claimed that Mr. Wray had the cellphone. However, Mr. Wray did not respond to requests for confirmation. The questions regarding the whereabouts of Governor Christie's phone began as supporters of Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, awaited his decision on a running mate. Mr. Christie, whom Mr. Wray represented during the scandal, was believed to be on a short list of candidates. Judge Wigenton denied the defense’s request for the phone or its contents.[14][12]

Chris Christie did the most to keep himself out of the White House, but it sounds like Wray did a lot to keep him out of jail.

[Sooth2222]

He seems to have the correct "crease in his pants" for the WaPo (Yale undergrad, Yale Law School, and married to another Yalie). It also seems that he's smart enough to say the right things in a confirmation hearing. We'll find out if he was a good choice or a bad choice "in the fullness of time".

(But "principled"? He's a criminal defense lawyer!)

[mad_as_he$$]

Clark got nailed on “plagiarism”. He's not going to be in the Trump admin.

[Cboldt]

I wish, when he'd been asked what he'd do if directed to use the word "matter" instead of "investigation" replied that when the protocols of investigation and indictment are followed, that issue can't arise.

Plenty of Congressional apologists for the FBI usurping the role of the prosecutor. And also amazing how many in Congress think firing Comey stops an investigation.

Wray did okay during the inquisition. He was getting tired near the end of it.

[damper99]

>In all my dealing with Jim Comey, he was a terrific lawyer, a dedicated public servant and a wonderful colleague.

Sounds like another FBI director that can read the intent of another.