The claim: Video shows FBI Director Christopher Wray confirming President Joe Biden is under investigation for ‘Ukrainian bribes’
An Instagram video from Aug. 3 (direct link, archive link) shows FBI Director Christopher Wray responding to a question at a congressional hearing.
“BREAKING: FBI Director Wray confirms Joe Biden is under criminal investigation for Ukrainian bribe by U.S. attorney in Delaware, then tries to backtrack after realizing what he revealed,” the text above the video reads.
The video was liked more than 5,000 times in 11 days.
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Our assessment: False
The video does not show what the post claims. Wray briefly refers to the Hunter Biden investigation being led by a Delaware district attorney, then declines to confirm or deny who is or is not being investigated.
Wray declined to confirm “who is or is not” being investigated
The video shows Wray testifying at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on July 12. The exchange in question occurred more than three hours after the hearing when Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, asked Wray, “Did Joe Biden take payments from Burisma or other foreign companies as vice president, president, or private Biden?”
Wray replied, “As you may be aware, there is an ongoing investigation led by U.S. Attorney in Delaware, Mr. (David) Weiss, appointed by President (Donald) Trump in the last administration our Baltimore field office is working with, and I would refer you to him for what may be said.”
Tiffany seems to be implying that the president is under investigation, but the ongoing investigation Wray is referring to is the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, the president’s son, led by David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware. Wray does not say or confirm that the president is under investigation, as the post claims.
In fact, Wray declined to directly confirm or deny “who is or isn’t being investigated for what,” saying in the same clip that it’s long-standing agency policy not to make such comments.
Check facts: No, Trump will not face the death penalty in the 2020 election indictment
In late July, a federal judge refused to accept a plea deal in the Hunter Biden case after prosecutors and lawyers failed to agree on terms. Hunter Biden had previously agreed to plead guilty to two counts of tax evasion and participate in a pre-trial investigation program for a firearms violation.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on August 11 that he was appointing Weiss as special counsel on the case, meaning Weiss will have the authority to bring charges in any federal court he chooses.
The case has had wide-ranging political implications, with many Republicans questioning Hunter Biden’s sources of income and accusing him of using influence for foreign companies with his father. Republicans, however, have yet to present evidence to support those claims.
USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
PolitiFact also debunked the claim.
Our Fact Check Resources:
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House Judiciary Committee, July 12 Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
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House Judiciary GOP, July 12, Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (YouTube)
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TODAY US, August 11, Special Counsel Named in Hunter Biden Inquiry After Plea Deal Fails
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TODAY, July 26, Hunter Biden plea deal put on hold after judge said she wouldn’t ‘stamp it’
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TODAY, June 20, Hunter Biden pleads guilty to two tax charges, clears federal gun violation: DOJ
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FBI Director Didn’t Say Joe Biden Is Under Investigation | Check facts
