The recent social media posts by former FBI agent Steven Friend have drawn attention to the lies of current FBI director Christopher Wray during his Congressional testimony.
As an FBI whistleblower who testified about issues such as the bureau’s manipulation of domestic extremism statistics and retaliatory measures against him and his family, Mr. Friend’s remarks are especially noteworthy.
His statements on Twitter suggest that Director Wray was not truthful when addressing questions from House Judiciary Committee members.
On Twitter, Mr. Friend wrote that “The [FBI] Director told [House Judiciary Committee] that special agents did not conduct surveillance of school boards. He lied. The Joint Terrorism Task Force in my office did it.”
The @FBI Director told @JudiciaryGOP that special agents did not conduct surveillance of school boards. He lied. The Joint Terrorism Task Force in my office did it. I testified about the details in May.
— Steve Friend (@RealStevefriend) July 12, 2023
He went on to explain that “The [FBI] Director told [Representative Troy Nehls] that no agents were reassigned from child exploitation investigations to domestic terrorism. Another lie.”
The @FBI Director told @RepTroyNehls that no agents were reassigned from child exploitation investigations to domestic terrorism. Another lie. I was reassigned from child pornography cases and told those cases were going to be considered a "local matter." https://t.co/0kgnEJLapC
— Steve Friend (@RealStevefriend) July 12, 2023
These claims are troubling given the manner in which the director spoke about them, seemingly without any consideration for how they would be received by Congress or the public at large.
When asked what he thought about agents being able to come forward and speak candidly, Mr. Friend responded by saying “[t]he fact that I’m watching at home on my laptop instead of earning a living investigating child pornographers [which was his former role at the FBI] says it all,” referencing his removal from this role due to whistleblowing activities which exposed risks to public safety.
The fact that I'm watching at home on my laptop instead of earning a living investigating child pornographers says it all.
— Steve Friend (@RealStevefriend) July 12, 2023
He also criticized other responses provided by Wray during his testimony before Congress: “Chris Wray dismissed public disapproval of his [FBI] by citing high numbers of job applicants. The American people are his customers. Does a restaurant owner disregard food poisoning reports because many people are applying to be waiters?”
Chris Wray dismissed public disapproval of his@FBI by citing high numbers of job applicants. The American people are his customers. Does a restaurant owner disregard reports of food poisoning because lots of people are applying to be waiters? https://t.co/U7yqVYQqzd
— Steve Friend (@RealStevefriend) July 13, 2023
This is significant given how whistleblowers like himself have been targeted and punished by the bureau for exposing corruption or misconduct within its ranks.
And yet despite these retaliatory measures, there remains individuals willing and able to stand up against abuse of power within law enforcement agencies like the FBI.
