Sen. Charles E. Grassley delivered a blistering denunciation of FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday, saying he’s lost control of the country’s preeminent law enforcement agency and lost the confidence of key members of Congress.
Mr. Grassley, Iowa Republican, said Mr. Wray has overseen politicized investigations, targeted Christians for intrusive scrutiny and defied Capitol Hill’s attempts to expose problems on everything from vetting of Afghan evacuees to the controversial raid on President-elect Donald Trump’s home.
Mr. Grassley said it is fitting that Mr. Wray be ousted before the 10-year term of the FBI director is up — and he said Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate should go too.
“For the good of the country, it’s time for you and your deputy to move on to the next chapter in your lives,” Mr. Grassley wrote. “I therefore must express my vote of no confidence in your continued leadership of the FBI.”
Mr. Trump has already said he will oust Mr. Wray and has named a nominee to replace him.
The Times has sought comment from the FBI for this report.
Mr. Grassley, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Congress’ top lawmaker for protecting whistleblowers, has repeatedly clashed with the FBI over what he sees as stonewalling.
That includes probes into dangerous Afghan evacuees brought to the U.S., a controversial FBI member that suggested conservative Catholics be seen as akin to domestic terrorists, sexual harassment of women in the FBI”s ranks, and a bizarre chain of events that seemed to see the FBI used by Democrats to try to discredit Mr. Grassley and fellow GOP Sen. Ron Johnson as they probed the Biden family.
The raid on Mr. Trump’s home, where agents sought classified documents, loomed large in Mr. Grassley’s complaints.
“In that raid, roughly 30 armed agents entered the home of a former president of the United States, with full authorization to use lethal force if needed to execute its warrant, and even searched the former First Lady’s clothing drawers,” Mr. Grassley wrote.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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