FBI Director Christopher Wray distanced himself Tuesday from Attorney General William Barr, who used the term “spying” in a separate hearing to describe the feds’ surveillance of President Trump’s campaign.
“Well that’s not the term I would use,” Mr. Wray told the House Appropriations Committee.
“Lots of people have different colloquial phrases. 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 it’s done by the book consistent with our lawful authorities,” he said.
In April, Mr. Barr said “I think spying did occur” on Mr. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
The New York Times reported Thursday the Federal Bureau of Investigation sent an investigator posing as a campaign staffer into his 2016 campaign.
When Mr. Wray was asked by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen whether he has any evidence of illegal surveillance, he said: “I don’t think I personally have any evidence of that sort.”
The FBI director also said he is “working to help” Mr. Barr review how the Russia investigation began.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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