U.S. President Barack Obama has installed James Comey as the new director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Obama praised Comey on Monday, describing him as someone who knows what's right and what's wrong and is willing to act on that basis every single day.
The 54-year-old Comey served as deputy U.S. attorney general under former U.S. president George W. Bush. During that time, he gained notoriety by defiantly refusing to go along with White House demands for warrantless wiretapping.
The surveillance program resurfaced as a major point of contention earlier this year, when it was revealed that the U.S. government maintained an expansive surveillance program targeting Internet and phone communications. Obama has staunchly defended the program.
Comey replaces Robert Mueller, who took over shortly after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
Obama praised Comey on Monday, describing him as someone who knows what's right and what's wrong and is willing to act on that basis every single day.
The 54-year-old Comey served as deputy U.S. attorney general under former U.S. president George W. Bush. During that time, he gained notoriety by defiantly refusing to go along with White House demands for warrantless wiretapping.
The surveillance program resurfaced as a major point of contention earlier this year, when it was revealed that the U.S. government maintained an expansive surveillance program targeting Internet and phone communications. Obama has staunchly defended the program.
Comey replaces Robert Mueller, who took over shortly after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.