Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI, has come out and flat out rejected the notion that he and the agency he heads up have been protecting President Joe Biden and his family after being asked by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, during questioning on Wednesday. The hearing marks the first time that Wray has testified on the Hill since Republicans took over the House, according to The Daily Wire.
Gaetz kicked off his time for questioning by asking the director about a message found on WhatsApp that Hunter Biden, Joe Biden’s younger son, sent to Henry Zhao, an executive with CEFC China Energy back in 2017. The message was more or less a very thinly veiled threat that invoked the name of Joe Biden to try and pressure him 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 in the message. “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.”
Gaetz read part of the message out loud and then asked, “Sounds like a shakedown, doesn’t it, director?” Unsurprisingly, Wray refused to provide a response to the question.
“You seem deeply uncurious about it, don’t you? Almost suspiciously uncurious. Are you protecting the Bidens?” Gaetz followed up. Wray acted as if he were deeply offended by the insinuation contained in the question.
“Absolutely not. The FBI has no interest in protecting anyone politically,” he replied.
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,” the report noted.