The FBI’s “supplemental update to the previous background investigation was limited in scope and that ... is consistent with the standard process for such investigations going back a long ways," Director Christopher Wray said. | Alex Brandon/AP photo kavanaugh confirmation FBI's Wray confirms White House limited Kavanaugh probe

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate on Wednesday that the White House put limits on the re-opened investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, but the law enforcement chief insisted that the process used was a typical one.

"Our supplemental update to the previous background investigation was limited in scope and that ... is consistent with the standard process for such investigations going back a long ways," Wray said under questioning by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on global security threats.


"I've spoken with our background investigation specialists and they have assured me this was handled in a way consistent with their experience and the standard process," the FBI director said, later adding that the inquiry was "very specific in scope—limited in scope."

Wray confirmed that background investigations are handled differently from other FBI probes and that the scope of inquiries into judicial nominees is dictated by the White House. However, he declined to discuss any specifics about what the White House decided should or should not be examined during the brief follow-up investigation conducted following the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh.

Democratic senators have complained that the FBI probe was unduly limited, failed to interview relevant witnesses and failed to re-interview Kavanaugh and one of his primary accusers, Christine Blasey Ford. However, the Republican senators who insisted on the renewed inquiry before voting on Kavanaugh have said they considered the effort sufficient.

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Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate Saturday on a vote of 50-48. He was sworn in later that day and took the bench for his first round of oral arguments at the high court on Tuesday.

Asked by Harris if White House counsel Don McGahn set the limits on the investigation, Wray said he didn't know if McGahn had contact with FBI officials on the topic.

"The communication between the FBI and the White House for nominees, including judicial nominees, is through the FBI security division, background investigation specialists and the White House Office of Security," Wray said. "I can't speak to what anyone throughout the organization might have received instructions on."

During the hearing — where Wray was flanked by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and National Counterterrorism Center acting Director Russell Travers — the FBI chief tried mightily to avoid being drawn out on other politically-heated issues surrounding the bureau. He largely succeeded.

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) raised Trump's frequent attacks on the FBI, including his description last year of "several rotten apples" among the bureau's top leaders.

"Do you agree with the president that there are 'rotten apples' within in the bureau's senior leadership?" Hassan asked.

"Senator, I can only tell you about the FBI I see, which is people of great courage, integrity and professionalism," Wray responded. "They are extraordinary people that this committee and all Americans should be proud of."

However, later in the hearing, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) challenged Wray about about individuals criticized in an inspector general's report into the FBI's handling of election-related investigations in 2016. Among those faulted in the report were Special Agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who exchanged texts sharply critical of President Donald Trump while involved an investigation into his campaign's ties to Russia, as well as former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe.

McCabe and Strzok were fired. Page quit.

"Are you concerned about the credibility of the FBI?" Johnson asked. "What about the credibility? This is a legitimate concern. Are you concerned about that?"

"I take the credibility of the FBI, definitely, seriously," Wray replied. "I take anybody's concerns seriously. The inspector general, I agree with you, did a very thorough and professional job and I've taken his recommendations very seriously. There have been disciplinary decisions which I can't discuss in this forum, of course, that have been made."

While Wray offered no direct criticism of the president or the White House, he did make a general statement lamenting a lack of solid factual information in American political discourse at the moment.

"We think decisions need to be based on facts," the FBI chief said in response to a rather abstract question from Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) on the role of truth in our public debate. "I think more and more this country could stand to, everybody take a deep breath and calm down for a second and focus on the facts. And that's what we're going to do at the FBI."