President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, said on Wednesday that any attempt to tamper with Robert Mueller's Russia investigation would be "unacceptable."
Wray was testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) asked Wray if he would commit to informing the committee if there is any attempt to interfere with Mueller's work.
"Assuming that I can do it legally and appropriately, absolutely," Wray said. "I am very committed to supporting Director Mueller in the special counsel investigation in whatever way is appropriate for me to do that."
The Justice Department in May appointed Mueller to lead the federal investigation into ties between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.
Wray went on to praise Mueller for his past experience with him.
Feinstein then asked Wray if he wanted to say anything else. Wray first said that he would "consult with the appropriate officials" before communicating with the committee to not risk undermining an investigation.
"I would consider an effort to tamper with Director Mueller's investigation to be unacceptable and inappropriate and would need to be dealt with very sternly and appropriately, indeed," Wray said.
Trump nominated Wray to fill the vacancy left at the top of the FBI after the president fired former director James Comey.