Nominee for FBI Chief Answers Gun Background Check Questions
Christopher Wray, President Trump's nominee for FBI Director, fielded inquiries about his feelings on gun control laws from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Christopher Wray is the man President Trump has tapped to be the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and he is currently in the midst of his approval hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
As with most of these hearings, the questions eventually rolled around to gun control.
During his testimony, he was questioned on gun laws by Connecticut’s Sen. Richard Blumenthal about four hours into the session, according to this post from guns.com.
“Let me switch to a different topic, you have mentioned the scourge of gun violence in this country,” Blumenthal said. “Would you support common sense measures to stop gun violence? As you know, I have championed a number of them along with others on this committee and in the Senate, including universal background checks. Would you support that kind of measure?”
Wray responded by saying his support would depend on the specific legislation.
FBI special agents will be carrying something similar to this Glock 17 Gen4 in 9mm, only without the finger-grooves.
“I would want to take a look at any specific legislative proposal and get back to you once I had evaluated a specific piece of legislation. But I do support efforts to deal with gun violence aggressively and effectively and I think my record — both as a line prosecutor and in the leadership of the department — is consistent with that,” he said in response.
Wray was further pressed on the matter of universal background checks, he said he wouldn’t rule it out, but stressed he would “review it and make an assessment based on the circumstances.”
Wray is expected to be confirmed before the Senate’s August recess for the position left vacant by the firing of James Comey as FBI Director earlier this year, the story says.
From 2003 to 2005, Wray served as Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Criminal Division under the George W. Bush administration under Comey, who was then the Deputy Attorney General. While in the position, Wray oversaw the prominent Enron fraud investigation.
Wray has been a litigation partner with the law firm King & Spalding since 2005 where he has represented several Fortune 100 companies. Notably, Wray acted as New Jersey Governor and former Presidential candidate Christ Christie’s personal attorney during the Bridgegate scandal.
