Page 3 - ARUBA TODAY

A3
U.S. NEWS Thursday 13 July 2017
FBI nominee rejects Trump claim: Russia probe no witch hunt

By SADIE GURMAN rector sure doesn’t know
ERIC TUCKER me very well.”
Associated Press After Trump dismissed
WASHINGTON (AP) — Don- Comey on May 9, the ex-
ald Trump’s pick to lead FBI director said that the
the FBI broke with the presi- president had asked him to
dent in key areas Wednes- pledge his loyalty during a
day, rejecting the idea that dinner at the White House
an investigation into possi- months earlier. He also said
ble coordination between Trump had encouraged
Russia and the Trump elec- him to end an investigation
tion campaign is a “witch into the former national
hunt” and promising not to security adviser, Michael
cave to any pressure from Flynn. Wray said he got no
a White House that has demand for personal loyal-
challenged boundaries ty, nor would he pledge it.
with the nation’s top law The back-and-forth with
enforcement agency. lawmakers focused exten-
Christopher Wray, the for- sively on the Russia investi-
mer high-ranking Justice gation, with Wray repeat-
Department official whom edly voicing his respect for
Trump nominated last Robert Mueller, the former
month, told senators at his FBI director selected in
confirmation hearing that FBI Director nominee Christopher Wray testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 12, May as the special counsel
he would never let politics 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. to oversee the probe. q
get in the way of the bu- (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
reau’s mission. And he said
he “sure as heck” would abrupt dismissal of James
not offer a pledge of loy- Comey, who was admired
alty to the president. within the bureau. Yet the
Asserting his indepen- hearing, the first public win-
dence, he said, “My loy- dow into Wray’s views since
alty is to the Constitution his selection, was largely
and the rule of law. Those devoid of fireworks in keep-
have been my guideposts ing with what friends and
throughout my career, and supporters have described
I will continue to adhere to as the nominee’s low-key,
them no matter the test.” disciplined style.
Wray’s responses seemed His reserved approach
to satisfy both Democrats could bode well for the
and Republicans on the agency at a time when its
Senate Judiciary Commit- work has been thrust into
tee, many of whom sig- the center of a political
naled their support for him. maelstrom.
Wray, 50, would inherit the But, Wray said, “Anybody
FBI at a particularly chal- who thinks that I would be
lenging time given Trump’s pulling punches as FBI di-
California Democrat launches a

longshot bid to impeach Trump

By S. OHLEMACHER “But if the impulsive incom-
Associated Press petency continues, then
WASHINGTON (AP) — A eventually — many, many
California Democrat filed months from now — Re-
an article of impeachment publicans will join the im-
against President Donald peachment effort,” Sher-
Trump Wednesday in a man said in a statement.
longshot bid to remove the White House spokeswom-
president from office. an Sarah Huckabee Sand-
Rep. Brad Sherman ac- ers said Sherman’s resolu-
cuses Trump of obstructing tion was “utterly and com-
investigations into Russian pletely ridiculous” and “a
meddling in the 2016 presi- political game at its worst.”
dential election, in part by Sherman’s effort has little
firing former FBI Director chance of success in the
James Comey. Republican-led House.
Sherman acknowledges Sherman doesn’t even
that filing the article is “the have the backing of many
first step on a very long fellow Democrats.q
road.”