FBI Director Nominees Client List Could Hinder Oversight of Investigations

Source: WSJ

Christopher Wray has spent the past 12 years building up one of the most successful white-collar defense groups in America. Now, that work could limit his oversight of some major investigations if he is confirmed as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While Mr. Wray’s confirmation process is expected to focus on the abrupt firing of the last FBI director, James Comey, lawmakers are also likely to raise questions about Mr. Wray’s high-profile defense work.

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Mr. Wray recently represented New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in the 2013 George Washington Bridge lane-closure controversy, and Credit Suisse AG in a major tax investigation in which the Swiss bank pleaded guilty—both matters that faced federal probes. He oversaw a group of lawyers at the firm King & Spalding that specializes in representing clients under criminal investigation, including by the FBI.

Under ethics rules, Mr. Wray would automatically be barred from having any involvement in matters he handled personally, and Justice Department officials also are generally blocked for two years from investigations into people or companies represented by their former law firms.

Mr. Wray’s firm biography lists more than a dozen recent representations in Justice Department and other investigations, including five Fortune 100 firms, several pharmaceutical companies and a telecommunications company. It is unclear which matters may still be ongoing.

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Most senior FBI executives come from within the agency and have limited issues with former client recusals. Mr. Comey came to his FBI post from a hedge-fund firm, Bridgewater Associates LP. The previous FBI director, Robert Mueller, served as U.S. Attorney in San Francisco before his nomination to the job in 2001.

The agency has, however, come under scrutiny recently over other potential conflicts. Andrew McCabe, now acting director, helped supervise the investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s email use after his wife had received large donations from a Clinton ally for her state Senate campaign. The FBI’s ethics office had cleared his involvement, but Republicans and others criticized Mr. McCabe for his role in the probe.


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