James Comey’s Confirmation Hearing


July 12, 2013

On July 9, 2013, James Comey, Jr. answered questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee about how he would lead the Bureau if confirmed as its next Director.


Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The nominee for the next Director of the FBI, James Comey, Jr., answered questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee about how he would lead the Bureau if confirmed.

I’m Mollie Halpern, and this FBI, This Week. The former U.S. deputy attorney general testified that as the next FBI Director, he would balance the Bureau’s traditional crime-fighting role with its increased focus on terrorism. Comey also told senators his intention to prioritize the emerging threats facing our country.

James Comey: The cyber threat—both cyber espionage, cyber crime, and cyber terrorism—is an enormous and an exponentially growing threat, and so will certainly be a key part of the next 10 years.

Halpern: Comey also committed to strengthening the FBI’s partnerships with fellow law enforcement and the private sector.

Comey: Federal, state, and local enforcers in a particular jurisdiction and across jurisdictions have to cooperate and work together.

Halpern: The father of five told senators he came to admire the mission of the FBI and its people early in his career.

Comey: Those people are what excite me most about the prospect of being confirmed to be the Director of the FBI.

Halpern: The full Senate is expected to vote on Comey’s nomination later this month.

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