The FBI simply can’t avoid making the headlines.
Recent information about the agency’s internal operations in relation to foreign policy as well as the search of the Trump family’s Florida property has come to light.
The acts taking place within the FBI are once more making the front pages.
Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, has been found to have used an FBI jet for personal travel, according to a special study by House Republicans.
These facts came from The New York Post:
House Republican Elise Stefanik grilled Wray during a Senate hearing and asked the FBI Director to hand over all records regarding his personal use of FBI jets.
Flight records show that on August 4th, Wray took a flight to Saranac Lake, and on that day, he left an early Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in order to “catch a flight.”
The Post’s story that Wray cut short a Senate hearing earlier this month so he could head to the Adirondacks for some R&R led House Republicans to demand that FBI Director Christopher Wray disclose his personal travel on an official FBI jet.
Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the third-ranking Republican in the House, and the leaders of the oversight and intelligence committees in the House demanded that Wray provide documentation regarding his personal use of the jet and pay back taxpayers for any out-of-pocket expenses.
“In light of a recent report by the New York Post that you left a Senate hearing early to fly on an FBI aircraft for a personal vacation, we have questions about whether you are properly reimbursing federal taxpayers for your personal travel aboard government aircraft,” Stefanik writes to Wray.
In order to avoid questions about whistleblower claims that the FBI protected first son Hunter Biden from investigations into his international business dealings, Wray claimed he had to leave a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing early in order to catch a flight on August 4. Wray then flew to Saranac Lake.
Christopher Wray sat in front of the senate GOP, wouldn’t answer their questions, and told them he had to leave early so he could take his private jet on a vacation. He did this knowing his FBI would raid Trump’s home after the weekend.
THAT’s how unafraid they are of the GOP.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) August 9, 2022
At the hearing, Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate panel, ripped into Wray, saying that if he was using a government jet, he could reschedule its departure.
Stefanik stated, “Despite requests from Ranking Member Grassley, you refused to remain at the hearing for an additional 21 minutes for remaining members to finish asking their questions and conduct oversight of the FBI.”
She continued, “You reportedly departed on the FBI’s Gulfstream 550 jet, an agency aircraft initially intended for counterterrorism use, to make the one hour and 12-minute journey to Saranac Lake.”
“Further, it has been reported that you made a similar personal trip on a government aircraft on June 2 and June 5, 2022. Although certain federal officials are permitted to use government aircraft for personal or political use, these expenses must be reimbursed.”
Wray made an attempt to corner Grassley on his usage of public transportation for personal purposes.
There must be accountability for FBI Director Wray's use of a taxpayer-funded plane for personal travel.
The Director of the FBI is not above the law. https://t.co/58iTvo4rD3
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) August 16, 2022
Taxpayer dollars should not be funding FBI Director Wray’s vacation trips.
I’m conducting critical oversight to protect Americans' taxpayer dollars.https://t.co/9CdBTrrPBY
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) August 16, 2022
These specifics were revealed by The Washington Examiner:
House Republicans want answers on FBI Director Christopher Wray’s use of Justice Department jets for personal use following reports that he left a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to fly to upstate New York.
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
The flight in question occurred on Aug. 4, the day before FBI investigators sought and received approval for a raid of former President Donald Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the top Republican on House Oversight, and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), sought answers from Wray on Monday. CONTINUE READING…