FBI Director Defends Bureau Against Hard Line Of Questions

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service 

Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday the bureau has a broad range of national security and criminal threats it is currently working to alleviate.

Some members of the committee, including Ranking Member Jeff Sessions (D-Ala.), said they were “taken back” by the apparent policy of the FBI to try arrested individuals in federal civilian court instead of transferring them to the military. 

“The presumption needs to be that persons coming from al Qaeda or other terrorist organizations should be held in military custody,” said Sessions. 

Mueller did not elaborate on the bureau’s alleged policy but said “our authority is somewhat limited in that regard.”  

Mueller explained that after the bureau makes arrests, the president has the authority to direct the FBI to turn over individuals to a military commission. When Sessions asked if presidential authority was absolutely necessary for transfers to occur, Mueller said, “That’s a type of question, in my mind, that should be answered by the Office of Legal Council.”

The FBI has also been criticized for its growing reliance to outsource to independent contractors, an issue that Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) showed growing concern over.

“We of course use contractors,” said Mueller. “We, for several years now, have undertaken to reduce our reliance.”

According to Mueller, the FBI is working to decrease the amount of contractors in the information technology sector. Despite wanting to use in-house personnel for duties, Mueller also stressed the necessity of outsiders for their expertise in “discreet” arenas.

Mueller faced gruelling questions from committee members over allegations that FBI agents cheated on an exam that tested their knowledge of the limitations of the bureau’s powers to conduct surveillance and open cases without evidence that a crime has been committed.

Mueller defended his agents but said he nor the Inspector General would know the number of agents involved in the investigation.

“I do believe our workforce absolutely understands what can be investigated in this day and age,” Mueller said.