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FBI director Christopher Wray testified before Congress on Tuesday that he would not describe traditional office surveillance as "spying," indicating a possible split with Attorney General William Barr for his controversial use. of this term to describe intelligence gathering during Russia. probe.
"This is not the term I would use," Wray told legislators of the Senate Credit Committee when asked if FBI agents were "spying" when they followed the rules and procedures. of the FBI. "Many people have different familiar phrases. I believe that the FBI is engaged in an investigation activity, and part of the investigation activity includes a surveillance activity of different shapes and sizes. For me, the key question is to make sure that this is done according to the rules, according to our legal authorities. "
STEELE CONTROVERSIAL FILE RETURNS UNDER RESERVE AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF MUELLER'S REPORT
Barr and President Trump have both alleged, following the report of the special advocate Robert Mueller on Russia, that the office was spying on his associates during the 2016 presidential campaign.
"I think espionage has actually occurred," Barr said at a hearing last month. "The question is whether this was adequately planned. … Spying on a political campaign is a big problem."
During the hearing, Barr clarified: "I'm not saying that there was inappropriate monitoring, I say I'm worried about it and I'm looking into it, that's 39 is everything. "
BARR HAMMERED SAID THE ESPYMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONDED, DESPITE THE CONFIRMATION OF TRUMP'S TEAM SURVEILLANCE
DOJ's Inspector General Michael Horowitz is currently examining the origins of the investigation into Russia and whether surveillance abuses are occurring, but Barr's remarks have been widely criticized by Democrats, the leader of the minority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., accusing Barr of peddling conspiracy theories. "Still, Trump's allies note that there is documented evidence that the FBI has obtained monitoring warrants to monitor Trump's advisor, Carter Page, and that many reports have revealed the use of 39, an informant and other people to gather information during the early days of the investigation.
Asked about the controversy surrounding Barr's remarks, a person familiar with his thinking denied last month that he had tried to fuel conspiracy theories or play against the conservative base.
"When he used the word espionage, he wanted to talk about intelligence gathering," the source told Fox News, also highlighting Barr's past as a CIA analyst in the 1970s. did not use it in a pejorative sense, he used it in the classic sense of the word. "
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Asked her directly whether she believed the FBI was spying on the 2016 Trump campaign, postponed to Horowitz's ongoing investigation.
"I want to pay attention to the way I answer this question here because there is an ongoing investigation by the Inspector General," he said. "I have my own thoughts based on the limited information I've seen so far, but I do not think so … would be fair or appropriate to share them at this point because I'm 39; truly believes that it is important that everyone respects the independent Inspector General's investigation, which I guess this series of questions is starting to involve, and I think it is very important that everyone be able to have complete confidence in their report. "
Later he stated that "I do not personally have any evidence" of illegal monitoring of the Trump campaign during the 2016 elections, but he said he had been "in close contact" with Barr for the Help get to the bottom of things. the investigation of Russia started.
Barr said last week that he was working with Wray to try to "rebuild" the origins of the probe.
Brooke Singman of Fox News contributed to this report.
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