FBI Director Christopher Wray insists his department is not politically protecting the Biden family.
During a hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) read texts allegedly from President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, to his business associate Raymond Zhao.
After reading the message, Gaetz asked Wray, “Sounds like a shake-down doesn’t it director?”
“I’m not going to get into commenting on that,” Wray responded.
Watch the video below:
FBI's Wray tells Rep. @mattgaetz he's "absolutely not" protecting the Bidens but refuses to comment on Hunter's text messages pic.twitter.com/oOYWAo0Rwc
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) July 12, 2023
However, Gaetz shot back, “You seem deeply uncurious about it, don’t you? Almost suspiciously uncurious.”
He asked, “Are you protecting the Bidens?”
“Absolutely not. The FBI does not and has no interest in protecting anyone politically,” Wray fired back.
Still, Gaetz insisted, “You won’t answer the question about whether or not that’s a shake-down, and everybody knows why you won’t answer it. Because to the millions of the people who will see this, they know it is. And your inability to acknowledge that is deeply revealing about you.”
He later insisted the FBI was trusted more by the American people when J. Edgar Hoover was the director than today and claimed, “The reason is because you don’t give straight answers… You won’t criticize an obvious shake-down when it’s directly in front of us. And it appears as though you’re whitewashing the conduct of corrupt people.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL): “People trusted the FBI more when J. Edgar Hoover was running the place than when you are.”
— The Recount (@therecount) July 12, 2023
FBI Director Chris Wray: “In your home state of Florida, the number of people applying to come work for us … is up over 100% since I started.” pic.twitter.com/M2PecP120Z
“Respectfully, congressman, in your home state of Florida, the number of people applying to come work for us… is up over 100% since I started,” Wray retorted.
Yet, Gaetz shot back, “We’re deeply proud of them, and they deserve better than you.”
The exchange mentioned messages allegedly sent from Hunter Biden that were released to the public from the House Ways and Means Committee, which acquired them from an IRS supervisor-turned-whistleblower
The messages read, “I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled.”
“I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father,” the text continued.
Joe Biden, who was then the former vice president at the time of the text, has denied he was in the room as his son claimed.
