Trump’s criticism may speed new FBI director

WASHINGTON - A day after President Donald Trump sharply criticized his own attorney general and leadership of the Justice Department, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday unanimously endorsed former Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray to take over from ousted former FBI Director James Comey.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell intends to see Wray confirmed by the full Senate before August recess.

But the year's nomination process has been so fraught that McConnell's staff sent out a warning shot to Democrats.

'Even though Senate Democrats have brought unprecedented obstruction to the nominations process this year for no good reason, we hope they do not sink to a new low and force the first ever cloture vote on an FBI Director nominee,” a McConnell spokesman said in a statement.

But the warning may have been unnecessary. If anything, the resolve of Democrats on the Judiciary Committee to advance Wray's nomination was emboldened by the Wednesday night publication of Trump's interview with the New York Times.

Trump took a broad swipe at his administration's top law officers in the interview, saying he would not have appointed Jeff Sessions as attorney general if he had known Sessions would recuse himself of a criminal investigation into allegations the Russian government meddled in the presidential election, perhaps with help from Trump's campaign.

Trump also noted in the interview that Acting FBI Director Andy McCabe's wife accepted money from a leading Democrat when she was in a political campaign.

McCabe was elevated into the acting position when Trump fired Comey earlier this year.

Thursday, Sessions brushed off the president's criticism.

'We love this job, we love this department and I plan to continue to do so as long as that is appropriate,” Sessions said at a news conference.

Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, a longtime member of the Judiciary Committee, said Trump's interview shows 'we are at the doorstep of a constitutional crisis in this country” and need to assure an independent Justice Department.

He said he takes Wray at his word about the significance of the FBI maintaining its independence. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, echoed that.

'It was vital that Mr. Wray make clear his allegiance is to the rule of law, the attorneys and law enforcement officials with whom he would serve, and, ultimately, the American people,” Whitehouse said.

Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who at times had complaints about Comey being unresponsive to requests from the committee, also praised Wray.

'During his hearing, he spoke of his deep respect for the FBI in keeping Americans safe, and he pledged that he ‘will never allow the FBI's work to be driven by anything other than the facts, the law, and the impartial pursuit of justice.' His unanimous support by the Judiciary Committee today is a strong indication of our faith in his abilities to lead the FBI, and I look forward to confirming him on the Senate floor,” Grassley said.

All 20 members of Grassley's committee voted to recommend Wray, a white-collar crime lawyer and former assistant attorney general under President George W. Bush, to the full Senate.

Roll Call and Reuters contributed to this report.