FBI Director Christopher Wray denied that his agency is protecting President Joe Biden or the Biden family on Wednesday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) pushed the director on the FBI’s behavior toward the Bidens during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. The hearing was the first time Wray testified on the Hill since Republicans took control of the House.
Gaetz began his time for questioning by asking Wray about a WhatsApp message Hunter Biden allegedly sent to CEFC China Energy executive Henry Zhao in 2017. The message invoked Biden’s father, then the former vice president of the U.S., in an apparent attempt to pressure Zhao into making a financial payment.
“I am sitting here with my father and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled. Tell the director that I would like to resolve this now before it gets out of hand, and now means tonight,” Biden allegedly wrote. “And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction. I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father.”
After reading part of the message, Gaetz asked, “Sounds like a shakedown, doesn’t it, director?”
Wray declined to comment.
“You seem deeply uncurious about it, don’t you? Almost suspiciously uncurious. Are you protecting the Bidens?” Gaetz pressed.
Wray appeared offended at the question. “Absolutely not. The FBI has no interest in protecting anyone politically,” he responded.
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Rep. Matt Gaetz reads out Hunter Biden text: "I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father. Sounds like a shakedown, doesn't it Director?"
FBI Director Way: "I'm not going to get into comment about that." pic.twitter.com/SkJQDR6VGd
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) July 12, 2023
The 2017 WhatsApp message was revealed by IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, who served as IRS supervisory agent on the agency’s investigation into Hunter’s tax affairs, in testimony to Congress. In his testimony, Shapley alleged strange coincidences, decisions, and misconduct by the Department of Justice during the investigation. The anomalies seemed to always cut in the Bidens’ favor, he said.
A whistleblower has alleged that the Biden family had a mole inside the FBI they referred to as “One Eye” who tipped them off on the status of investigations and gathered information Hunter Biden could use as leverage in international deals. Gal Luft, a former Israel Defense Forces lieutenant colonel, told the the House Oversight Committee about the alleged mole earlier this year and said he informed the Department of Justice and FBI of the matter in 2019. The DOJ announced Monday that Luft, who is on the run, has been indicted on various federal charges.