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[webfact]

Trump picks white-collar crime lawyer to replace Comey at FBI

By Julia Edwards Ainsley and Steve Holland

 

Christopher Wray is seen in an undated photo released by King and Spalding, New York, U.S., on June 7, 2017. King and Spalding/Handout via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday ended a fraught month-long search for an FBI chief after firing James Comey by selecting Christopher Wray, who has prosecuted and defended white-collar crime cases and represented New Jersey's governor in a political scandal.

 

Wray, who must be confirmed to the post by the Senate, and Comey served together in the Justice Department under former President George Bush, and both worked on the government's case in the Enron Corp fraud scandal in the early to mid-2000s.

 

Trump's announcement that he will nominate Wray as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation came a day before Comey's eagerly anticipated public testimony before a Senate committee.

 

In written testimony released by the panel on Wednesday, Comey said Trump told him on Jan. 27 that "I expect loyalty," and in a Feb. 14 meeting asked him to back off from a probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn's ties with Russia.

 

The Republican president's search for a replacement for Comey after firing him May 9 was difficult. Leading candidates including former Senator Joe Lieberman took their names out of consideration, and Trump interviewed a series of contenders.

 

In a statement, Trump called Wray "an impeccably qualified individual" who will serve "as a fierce guardian of the law and model of integrity."

 

The White House has given shifting explanations on why Trump fired Comey during an FBI investigation into whether Trump campaign associates colluded with the Russians to help him with the 2016 presidential election. Trump has said he was thinking of "this Russia thing" in dismissing Comey.

 

Wray served from 2003 to 2005 at the Justice Department under Republican former President George W. Bush as an assistant attorney general in charge of its criminal division and oversaw the department's Enron task force.

 

Wray and Comey helped bring the case against Kenneth Lay, the former Enron chairman convicted in 2006. Also involved in the Enron matter was Robert Mueller, then FBI director and now special counsel named after Comey was fired to investigate the Russia affair, as well as Andrew Weissman, who is now working for Mueller.

 

The web of Enron connections underscores the reliance in Washington, even under a president who vowed to "drain the swamp," on an elite corps of corporate lawyers whose varied careers often intersect and who sometimes present conflict-of-interest issues.

 

For instance, after he left the Justice Department and joined top international law firm King & Spalding, Wray represented Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the so-called Bridgegate scandal over massive traffic jams created as political punishment for a local mayor.

 

'PARTISAN ACTIVITY'

 

That case and others taken on by Wray while in private practice could pose problems, said American Civil Liberties Union National Political Director Faiz Shakir in a statement.

 

"Christopher Wray's firm's legal work for the Trump family, his history of partisan activity, as well as his history of defending Trump's transition director during a criminal scandal makes us question his ability to lead the FBI," Shakir said.

 

Wray represented Christie in a scandal that resulted in two of the governor's aides being convicted. Christie, who was a close adviser to Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign and whose name was floated as a possible Comey replacement, was never charged.

 

Christie on Wednesday called Wray "an outstanding choice, a non-political choice" to head the FBI.

 

Wray works as a King & Spalding litigation partner and represents companies and individuals in a white-collar criminal and regulatory enforcement matters. King & Spalding has represented Russian companies including state gas monopoly Gazprom <GAZP.MM>, according to its website. According to the website, the firm's energy practice also has represented businesses taking part in deals involving Russian entities including state-owned oil major Rosneft <ROSN.MM>.

 

The firm has previous ties to Trump. Bobby Burchfield, a partner in its Washington office, serves as ethics adviser for the trust set up in January to isolate Trump from the day-to-day operations of the Trump business organization. The agreement has been criticized by some ethics experts as inadequate.

 

Apart from possible conflicts, another question about Wray is whether the longtime white-collar lawyer is equipped to take over an agency that is increasingly focussed on detecting and combating terrorism, espionage and cybercrime.

 

"There are questions about whether he is experienced enough in intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, computer crimes, and issues like that," said one senior U.S. law enforcement official who asked not to be identified.

 

"The biggest test the bureau is likely to face is not another Enron," the official said.

 

Trump announced his selection of Wray in a surprise, early-morning Twitter message. Some Democratic lawmakers said the president's timing seemed intended to distract from Comey's scheduled testimony.

 

"It is imperative that the next FBI director be of unimpeachable integrity and independence," Nancy Pelosi, the top House of Representatives Democrat, said. "In light of the president's constant efforts to block the truth, the nomination of Christopher Wray should be subject to the utmost scrutiny."

 

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wray's "impressive credentials make him more than ready" to lead the FBI. Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said he did not know Wray but that his resume suggests he is "the perfect kind of person" for the job.

 

(Additional reporting by John Walcott, Susan Heavey, Susan Cornwell, Barbara Goldberg, Richard Cowan, Eric Walsh, Doina Chiacu and Karen Freifeld; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-08

[darksidedog]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Christopher Wray's firm's legal work for the Trump family, his history of partisan activity, as well as his history of defending Trump's transition director during a criminal scandal makes us question his ability to lead the FBI," Shakir said

Looks like Trump has found his "YES" man for the job then.

No real experience in areas such as intelligence, counter terrorism, or other issues needed for the job, but will lick the Dons balls when ordered.

[Emster23]

Hmmm... interesting history note is Bush 2 strongly considered making Enron head Ken Lay sec of treasury (!) til it all went south

[DeaconJohn]

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Looks like Trump has found his "YES" man for the job then.

No real experience in areas such as intelligence, counter terrorism, or other issues needed for the job, but will lick the Dons balls when ordered.

Exactly.

Wray seems to be totally unqualified in everything that matters most.

The Old Bulldog  must be turning over in his grave right now.

[Ramen087]

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Looks like Trump has found his "YES" man for the job then.

No real experience in areas such as intelligence, counter terrorism, or other issues needed for the job, but will lick the Dons balls when ordered.

C.mon. How much did you know about Mr. Wray prior to his nomination?  It is highly likely it was very minimal.

Why? Because Mr. Wray had scarce mention even during the Gov. Christie event.  

So why post a comment about him performing oral sex on the US President? 

Comments as written above do nothing but denigrate the entire ThaiVisa forum. 

Unnecessary, ungentlemanly and uncivil is a proper description of such a submission. 

[sweatalot]

5 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Looks like Trump has found his "YES" man for the job then.

No real experience in areas such as intelligence, counter terrorism, or other issues needed for the job, but will lick the Dons balls when ordered.

unexperienced same as Comey, being part of the swamp - but he used to lick another Don's balls

Edited June 8, 2017 by sweatalot

[dunroaming]

Well Trump isn't going to pick someone that is likely to give him problems so his choice is very limited, especially given that most candidates would run a mile from this poisoned chalice.  Licking Donald' balls  does have limited appeal even to the Trumpsters on TV.

[Jingthing]

This pick smells bad. 

[55Jay]

I have to agree.  This choice doesn't pass the smell test.

[dunroaming]

10 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

I have to agree.  This choice doesn't pass the smell test.

But does it pass the ball's licking test!

[55Jay]

23 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

But does it pass the ball's licking test!

I wouldn't know.  It's your litmus, you brought it up, so you go girl, give 'em a lick, and let us know what you find out. 

 

[Srikcir]

Another white man cabinet nomination.

I would have liked to see a minority nomination. Maybe a Muslim?

[dunroaming]

29 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

I wouldn't know.  It's your litmus, you brought it up, so you go girl, give 'em a lick, and let us know what you find out. 

 

Thanks for that!  On reflection and judging by the many reports, trying to find Trump's balls would prove nigh on impossible, the moron hasn't got any!  Apart from that I have no desire to become a part of the FBI so I will leave the ball's licking to others more qualified than me. 

[55Jay]

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Another white man cabinet nomination.

I would have liked to see a minority nomination. Maybe a Muslim?

Isn't that the same thing as nominating a white guy because he's white?

[ilostmypassword]

From what I've seen, he looks like a remarkably good choice.

[Scott]

I think we can drop the guttural genital references.   Further such posts will be removed and possibly result in suspensions.  

[Ramen087]

Thank you Scott for the previous post.