Most Domestic Terrorism Threats Are Tied To White Supremacists

FBI Director Christopher Wray

During testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the majority of domestic terrorism arrests have been tied to white supremacy.

From The Hill:

”I will say that a majority of the domestic terrorism cases that we’ve investigated are motivated by some version of what you might call white supremacist violence, but it does include other things as well,” Wray said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, referring to cases in fiscal 2019, which began Oct. 1.

The FBI is “aggressively” investigating domestic terrorism and hate crimes, Wray said, noting that the bureau is focused on investigating the violence, not the ideology motivating the attacks.

Wray distinguished between what he termed homegrown violent extremism, wording he said the FBI uses to refer to people in United States who are inspired by global jihadists, and domestic extremism, which Wray described as broader to include racially motivated extremists, anarchists and others.

The number of domestic terrorism arrests are on par with the amount international terrorism cases, according to Wray.

“In terms of number of arrests, we have through the third quarter of this fiscal year had about give or take 100 arrests on the international terrorism side, which includes the homegrown violent extremism,” Wray told Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) at the hearing. “We’ve also had just about the same number — again, don’t quote me to the exact digit — on the domestic terrorism side.”

Wray also testified that Russian operatives are still trying to interfere with our elections.

Graham: "Are the Russians still trying to interfere in our election systems?"

FBI Director Wray: "The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections through foreign influence."
Via CBS pic.twitter.com/favHfNtfAS

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 23, 2019

FBI Director Contradicts White House Version Of Timeline On Rob Porter Background Check

FBI Director Christopher Wray

Donald Trump's own hand-picked FBI Director, Christopher Wray, directly contradicted the White House's timeline regarding now-departed staff secretary Rob Porter's background security check.

The White House told the press that Porter's alleged domestic abuse only came to light this month.

But testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee today, Wray told lawmakers the FBI completed a partial report in March, finished a final report in July, and delivered responses to follow up requests in November.

The White House has never mentioned receiving a report in March. And White House spokesman Raj Shah told reporters that the background check was never completed.

Wray just contradicted WH timeline on Porter saying FBI “completed background investigation in late July.” WH spox Shah said last week background investigation was “ongoing.” pic.twitter.com/1keHbXUJZu

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 13, 2018

The testimony of FBI Director Wray directly contradicts both @PressSec & @RajShah45. So did both Sanders and Shah decide independently to lie to the American people? Or did someone higher up in the White House tell them a lie that they then repeated? https://t.co/b7JViHHtJh

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 13, 2018

FBI Director Wray on Rob Porter background check:

• Submitted partial report in March
• Completed background investigation in late July
• Received request for follow up, provided info in Nov.
• Closed the file in Jan.
• Received and passed on new info earlier this month pic.twitter.com/ucNcgge4vz

— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 13, 2018