Washington:
US President Barack Obama on Friday nominated James B Comey, who served in the Justice Department under former President George W Bush, to direct the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Once nominated and subsequently confirmed by the Senate, the 52-year-old Mr Comey, a Republican, will substitute current FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Mr Comey served in 2004 as acting attorney general during the hospitalisation of then-attorney general John Ashcroft, and opposed some aspects of the surveillance and wire-tapping of citizens ordered by Mr Bush after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
His nomination comes amid a controversy over the US government's secret surveillance programs, whose effectiveness and constitutionality Mr Mueller has defended.
Once nominated and subsequently confirmed by the Senate, the 52-year-old Mr Comey, a Republican, will substitute current FBI Director Robert Mueller.
Mr Comey served in 2004 as acting attorney general during the hospitalisation of then-attorney general John Ashcroft, and opposed some aspects of the surveillance and wire-tapping of citizens ordered by Mr Bush after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
His nomination comes amid a controversy over the US government's secret surveillance programs, whose effectiveness and constitutionality Mr Mueller has defended.
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