Senate confirms Wray to lead FBI

Christopher Wray on Tuesday was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Senate to head the FBI, winning bipartisan support for his commitment to remain fiercely independent from any political pressure.

The 92-5 vote installs Wray as FBI director at a consequential time. The bureau was rocked by President Donald Trump's abrupt dismissal of James Comey in May as Comey was overseeing the federal investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.


But Wray repeatedly pledged during his confirmation process that he would not bend to Trump, who, according to Comey, had asked the then-FBI director for a loyalty pledge.

Wray testified that he was never asked to swear loyalty to the president and that if he had been, he wouldn't have done so — winning over Democrats who have stymied a number of other high-profile Trump nominees.

"The fact that all of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, trusted Mr. Wray with their aye vote [in the Judiciary Committee] says what we need to know about Mr. Wray's ability to perform the important role of FBI director and to do it with integrity, with competence, with professionalism and the utmost respect for the Constitution and the rule of law," said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "We can't ask for Mr. Wray to do anything more than that."

Just five Democrats opposed Wray: Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden of Oregon, and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

The Wray confirmation came as party leaders negotiate a broad package of nominations to fill vacant posts in the Trump administration, which the Senate could clear before the August recess begins after next week.

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But confirming Wray was something that senators wanted to do independently of any major nominations deal, and the former Justice Department official and corporate lawyer has faced few hurdles as he waded through the confirmation process. He cleared the Judiciary Committee on a 20-0 vote.

"I'm very satisfied that Mr. Wray has the qualifications and independence necessary to lead the FBI," said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

The nonexistent drama over confirming Wray stands in contrast to how the vacancy appeared in the first place, with Comey's shocking ouster.

But once special counsel Robert Mueller was tapped to lead the probe, Democrats mostly dropped their objections to Trump's FBI nominee. Wray breezed through his confirmation hearing in the Judiciary Committee last month.

A larger nominations package is expected before senators leave for the August recess, although who will be confirmed as part of that deal is to be determined, according to senators and aides.

"I think they're talking and trying to figure out how big that package will be," said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), referring to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Added Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.): "We went into this week believing there would be a nominations package, and we still believe that."