FBI Director Wray faces off with his harshest critics at heated congressional hearing

House Republicans unloaded a barrage of criticism directed toward FBI Director Christopher Wray Wednesday, outlining a litany of complaints while Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee.

Chairman Jim Jordan opened the hearing launching into a wide array of attacks on the FBI. Those ranged from allegations the bureau allowed social media companies to suppress the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020 to claims FBI whistleblowers have been retaliated against to the FBI's handling of threats on school boards and a since-withdrawn memo from the bureau's Richmond field office on extremism in the Catholic Church.

Republicans accused Wray of undermining public trust in the law enforcement agency, including the handling of the investigations into former President Donald Trump and the son of President Joe Biden, Hunter Biden.

"Are you protecting the Bidens?" asked Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, after pressing Wray over allegations from an IRS whistleblower related to the Hunter Biden investigation.

"Absolutely not," Wray responded. "The FBI does not, has no interest in protecting anyone politically."

Gaetz and Wray got into a heated exchange after the Florida Republican alleged that the bureau has "the lowest level of trust in the FBI's history."

"People trusted the FBI more when J. Edgar Hoover was running the place than when you are, and the reason is because you don't give straight answers," Gaetz said.