WASHINGTON — President Obama officially announced his pick for director of the FBI Friday, saying his nominee James Comey is ready to protect the privacy of Americans even as the FBI's counter-terror operations continue.
Obama stood with Comey, a former Bush administration Justice Department official, and outgoing FBI director Robert Mueller in the Rose Garden at the White House. Obama called on the Senate to confirm his pick to lead the FBI, and referenced the ongoing government surveillance story that has dominated the news since Edward Snowden gave classified documents to the Guardian and Washington Post.
Obama said he picked Comey in part because "I'm confident that Jim will be a leader who understands how to keep America safe and stay true to our founding ideals no matter what the future may bring."
"As Jim has said, we know the rule of law sets this nation apart and is its foundation," he said. "Jim understands in a time of crisis, we aren't judged solely by how many plots we disrupt or how many criminals we bring to justice. We're also judged by our commitment the Constitution that we swore to defend and to the values and civil liberties that we pledged to protect."