Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) appears to be satisfied with FBI Director nominee Christopher Wray's answers about the use of torture. She was one of many senators to grill him Wednesday at the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing and when her 10 minutes of questioning arrived she got right to the point: What did he think of enhanced interrogation techniques.
“My view is that torture is wrong and ineffective,” he said, adding that he will continue the policy that the FBI is going to play "no part" in the use of techniques of that sort.
"That's a good start," Feinstein replied.
Feinstein's colleagues asked Wray repeatedly about his integrity and whether he will be able to act independently of the White House - especially after reports that President Trump asked James Comey to pledge his loyalty to him.
“My loyalty is to the Constitution,” Wray insisted. “No one asked me for any kind of loyalty oath and I sure as heck didn’t offer one.”
He was also asked to weigh in on the multiple investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, as well as possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign. He did not consider the latter a "witch hunt," as Trump has claimed, and said the FBI would certainly like to be informed about any foreign threat to our elections.
It seems Feinstein was pleased with Wray's performance before the panel, judging by what she told reporters during a recess.
Feinstein on Wray: "I'm going to vote yes"
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) July 12, 2017
There appear to be no red flags so far in Wray's hearing, and Politico's Kim predicts that he will get at least 90 yes votes.
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