Thread by @EpochTimes

Media outlets like @washingtonpost & @CNN published headlines claiming that @FBI Dir. #ChristopherWray said there was no evidence of #Spying on the Trump campaign.

The problem is, that wasn’t what Wray had actually said. (Thread 👇) theepochtimes.com/fbi-director-c…

With regard to #Wray’s comments on ”#spying,” he was actually responding to a question regarding the @FBI’s normal operations:

Shaheen: I’d like to follow up on Senator Moran’s question about the hearing we had with Attorney General Barr. Because, I was very concerned by his…

… use of the word “spying” which I think is a very loaded word. It conjures up a criminal connotation. I want to ask you and I’d appreciate a “yes” or “no” answer if possible.

When FBI agents conduct investigations against alleged mobsters, suspected terrorists, other…

… criminals, do you believe that they’re engaging in “spying” when they’re following FBI investigative policies and procedures?

Wray: Well, that’s not the term I would use.

#Wray’s comment was immediately seized upon and led to claims that he testified there was no #spying in relation to the investigation of the Trump campaign.

@Politico even led with the headline, “FBI’s Wray: Spying is ‘not the term I would use’ to describe Trump campaign probe.”

There have also been a number of articles published claiming that #ChristopherWray was publicly taking issue with #Barr’s use of the word “#Spying,” although that is not what #Wray said.

Wray actually stated that he was less concerned with what the investigative activity was actually termed and far more concerned with the intent that lay behind the investigations.

We know that there was at least one #FISA warrant on former Trump adviser #CarterPage. There may…

… have been others as well. Former Trump adviser @GeorgePapa19 and former Trump campaign manager #PaulManafort have both been mentioned as possibilities.

@SenatorShaheen then asked #Wray if the @FBI spied on the Trump campaign. Wray was very careful in his answer.

Note that, despite the many misleading headlines claiming otherwise, this is the only place where @SenatorShaheen actually asked directly about #Spying in relation to the Trump campaign:

Shaheen: And do you believe, Director Wray, that the FBI and its agents spied into the 2016 presidential campaign operation?

Wray: Well, again, I want to be careful about how I answer that question here because there is an ongoing inspector general investigation. I have my own…

… thoughts based on the limited information I’ve seen so far but I don’t think it would be right or appropriate for me to share those at this stage, because I really do think it’s important for everybody to respect the independent inspector general’s investigation, which I…

… think this line of questioning starts to implicate and I think it’s very important for everybody to be able to have full confidence in his review.

#Wray confirmed the ongoing #FISA investigation being conducted by @TheJusticeDept Inspector General #MichaelHorowitz but…

… was careful not to comment on it. Nor did #Wray confirm or deny #Spying on the Trump campaign.

Also of note, Wray did not in any way dispute @SenatorShaheen’s use of the word “spied.”

.@nbcnews promptly issued an article titled “FBI chief Wray refutes Barr, says no ‘spying’ on Trump campaign.”

@washingtonpost published no less than 3 different articles on #Wray’s statements, including one titled “FBI chief: No evidence of illegal spying on Trump campaign.”