FBI Director Pushes Back On Bill Barr’s “Spying” Claim: I Don’t Have “Any Evidence” Of Illegal Surveillance

CNN reports:

FBI Director Christopher Wray told a Senate panel Tuesday that the bureau is “working to help” Attorney General William Barr as he reviews the origins of the Russia investigation, but distanced himself from Barr’s use of the phrase “spying” at a separate hearing last month. “Well, that’s not the term I would use,” Wray said.

“Lots of people have different colloquial phrases,” he added to a Senate appropriations subcommittee. “I believe that the FBI is engaged in investigative activity and part of investigative activity includes surveillance activity of different shapes and sizes. To me the key question is making sure that its done by the book consistent with our lawful authorities.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray pushes back on Bill Barr’s use of the loaded term “spying” to describe investigation of Trump campaign.

“That’s not the term I would use… to me the key question is making sure it’s done by the book, consistent with our lawful authorities.” pic.twitter.com/65HI19vzIa

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 7, 2019

SHAHEEN asks Wray whether he considers adequately predicated surveillance “spying.”

“That’s not the term I would use,” Wray responds.

BUT he says “different people use different colloquial phrases.”

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 7, 2019

SHAHEEN: Do you have any evidence of illegal surveillance in the 2016 campaign?

WRAY: “I don’t think I personally have any evidence of that sort.”

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) May 7, 2019