Donald Trump
The Friendliest Lawsuit Ever Filed Against the FBI
Benjamin Wittes Thu, Sep 14, 2017, 1:01 PM
I sued the FBI yesterday to show that the President is lying about its staff.
Latest in Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Donald Trump
Christopher Wray’s First Problem: What to Do About Andrew McCabe
Benjamin Wittes, Nora Ellingsen Thu, Aug 3, 2017, 3:10 PM
Christopher Wray took the oath of office at the FBI yesterday and thus started the clock ticking on a difficult problem he’s going to have to address: the fate of his deputy, Andrew McCabe.
Donald Trump
The President vs. Federal Law Enforcement: Trump Attacks Everyone
Benjamin Wittes Thu, Jul 20, 2017, 8:17 AM
In an interview with the New York Times, President Trump yesterday issued a stunning vote of no-confidence in basically everyone currently in a leadership position in the Justice Department, the FBI, or the special counsel’s office.
Executive Power
FBI Independence—Too Much of a Good Thing?
Robert Litt Mon, Jul 17, 2017, 10:00 AM
The president’s power to remove the director serves as an important check on abuse of power.
FBI
Congress Should Reconsider Giving the FBI Director Independence from Presidential Control
Andrew Kent Fri, Jul 14, 2017, 9:00 AM
Following President Trump's detonation of the checks and balances that previously maintained law enforcement independence, it is worth revisiting post-Watergate congressional proposals to give greater independence to the FBI.
Appointments, Confirmations & Budgets
Liveblog: Confirmation Hearing for Christopher Wray as FBI Director
Quinta Jurecic Wed, Jul 12, 2017, 9:26 AM
Starting at 9:30am this morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a confirmation hearing for Christopher Wray, President Trump's nominee for FBI Director. Follow the livestream and keep up with Lawfare's liveblog below.
Wray's prepared remarks are available here.
FBI
Twenty Questions for Christopher Wray
Benjamin Wittes Mon, Jul 10, 2017, 7:30 AM
Christopher Wray will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week as the committee considers his nomination to be the new Director of the FBI. Here are twenty questions I urge senators to ask Wray.
FBI Director James Comey
On the Mood Among My Former Colleagues at the FBI
Nora Ellingsen Thu, Jun 1, 2017, 9:14 AM
While Comey was a controversial figure in the larger political system and among Justice Department officials, he was not a controversial figure at the FBI at all. Nearly everyone loved him.
The Russia Connection
Initial Reactions on the Appointment of Robert Mueller As Special Counsel
Jane Chong, Quinta Jurecic, Susan Hennessey, Matthew Kahn, Benjamin Wittes Wed, May 17, 2017, 10:01 PM
Quick reactions to the appointment of Robert Mueller as Special Counsel to investigate L'Affaire Russe.
FBI Director James Comey
Partisan Political Figures Cannot Run the FBI
Jack Goldsmith, Benjamin Wittes Mon, May 15, 2017, 10:33 AM
The idea of appointing a partisan political figure of any kind to run the FBI under any circumstances should be unthinkable. In the current moment, it must be understood as nothing less than a dangerous corruption of federal law enforcement.