FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee on May 7, and was asked a series of questions on the topic of spying and surveillance on the Trump campaign by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).

Wray’s answers have been widely misrepresented and misreported. Media outlets such as The Washington Post and CNN published headlines claiming that Wray had said there was no evidence of spying on the Trump campaign. There were also multiple claims that Wray had directly refuted statements by Attorney General William Barr.

The problem is, that wasn’t what Wray had actually said. And some of his answers came from questions that had nothing to do with the Trump campaign.

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 by many in the media and led to claims that the FBI director had testified there was no spying in relation to the FBI’s 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.” Note that Wray was responding to the everyday activities of the FBI, not specifically to the activities surrounding the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign.

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

Shaheen continued with her questioning and Wray provided an answer that is getting little attention, although it probably should. Wray 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.

Shaheen: I would say that’s a “no” to that question.

Wray: Well, I mean, look, lots of people have different colloquial phrases. I believe that the FBI is engaged in investigative activity and part of investigative activity includes surveillance activity of different shapes and sizes. And to me the key question is making sure that it’s done by the book, consistent with our lawful authorities. That’s the key question. Different people use different colloquial phrases.

https://m.theepochtimes.com/fbi-director-cites-ongoing-investigation-in-response-to-spying-question_2911191.html