FBI Nominee to Senate: Trump FCPA Probe Not Off-Limits
On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee received answers from Christopher Wray to questions that directly addressed Wray's perception of his firm King & Spalding and the legal enforcement he may do if confirmed as FBI director.
July 19, 2017 at 02:48 PM
28 minute read
On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee received answers from Christopher Wray to questions that directly addressed Wray's perception of his firm and the legal enforcement he may do if confirmed as FBI director.
The highly compensated King & Spalding partner clarified which politically fraught matters he did and didn't work on while at the firm, including whether they were Trump- or Russia-related. He was also pressed about whether the FBI would investigate a “credible allegation” of possible foreign-corruption violations by the Trump Organization.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who serves as the committee's ranking member, posed the question this way: What will Wray do if the Trump Organization or family may have violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act? Feinstein cited a New Yorker story that raised questions about the Trump Organization's ventures in Azerbaijan.
“I am not familiar with the media reporting referenced in your question,” Wray responded. “As I have testified, if confirmed, I would be committed to following the facts and law, wherever they might lead, and regardless of the target. If the FBI is provided credible evidence suggesting that a crime had been committed, I would expect the FBI to investigate appropriately and, if merited, to support the prosecution of such crimes.”
Feinstein also asked about Wray's representation of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the George Washington Bridge shutdown investigation. Wray said Christie, a Republican who campaigned for Trump, apparently wasn't involved when the White House first considered him, though since then Christie has supported Wray's nomination.
Wray said he and the governor never discussed the investigation into the Trump campaign's ties to Russia nor Trump's decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, a Hawaii Democrat, asked Wray about King & Spalding's work, and about how his law firm online biography changed this year. (The firm reportedly said Wray made changes to his bio page “in an attempt to make the material more current.”)
Hirono pointed out how King & Spalding partner Bobby Burchfield earned the appointment to serve as ethics adviser to the Trump companies, which are now structured as a trust to prevent conflicts of interest.
“Does your partner's status as ethics adviser pose any conflict of interest for you if matters arise involving the Trump Organization and questions about whether President Trump has truly separated himself from those business dealings?” Hirono asked.
Wray said he did not participate in the firm's work on that matter. He added: “To my knowledge, King & Spalding has not represented members of the Trump family individually.”
Hirono also zeroed in on King & Spalding's work for Russian corporate clients.
Hirono: Your current law firm, King & Spalding, has provided extensive representation to large Russian state-owned oil companies Rosneft and Gazprom, and to companies doing business with Rosneft and Gazprom. In fact, your biography on the firm's website used to include as one of your clients: “An energy company president in a criminal investigation by Russian authorities.” While at King & Spalding, did you participate in any matters involving Rosneft or Gazprom, or share any confidential information with either company, or with entities engaged in business with either company?
Wray: No.
Hirono: What assurance can you give that the FBI will aggressively pursue investigations that touch on or involve your firm's Russian clients?
Wray: My loyalty is to the United States. I have never represented a Russian company or any individual connected with the Russian government. If there are or were to be investigations in which King & Spalding was involved as counsel, I would consult with the appropriate ethics officials and take appropriate action with regard to my participating in such investigations.
Wray testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee one week ago. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing to hold Wray's confirmation vote before the Senate breaks for its August recess.
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