Christopher A. Wray testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his nomination to be the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington D.C., the United States, on July 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)
WASHINGTON, July 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director post Christopher Wray said Wednesday that he will lead the FBI independently and resist potential pressure from the Oval Office.
At the nomination hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Wray said that his loyalty was to the Constitution, the rule of law and the mission of the FBI.
"There isn't a person on this planet whose lobbying or influence could convince to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation," Wray said.
Former FBI director James Comey was abruptly dismissed from duty by Trump on May 9 while leading the investigation on Russia's meddling in the U.S. presidential election in 2016.
U.S. media reported that Comey was once asked for "a loyalty pledge" by President Trump in private before his dismissal.
In response to this statement, Wray said that he was not required to take any kind of loyalty oath, and any interference attempt in the investigation into Russia's election meddling would be "unacceptable."
When asked about his reaction if Trump were to make any unlawful or unethical request, "First, I would try to talk him out of it, and if that failed, I would resign," Wray said.
Furthermore, he said at the hearing that as the FBI head, he is "committed to supporting" the investigation "in whatever way is appropriate for me."
Wray, 50, served as assistant attorney general in charge of the Criminal Division of the Justice Department from 2003 to 2005 and has handled various important cases like corporate frauds and financial crimes.
Under U.S. law, the FBI director is appointed by the U.S. president and confirmed by the Senate. He will serve a single 10-year term.
