Washington CNN —FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Thursday that the number of Russian spies operating inside the United States is “still way too big,” despite efforts to kick them out. “The Russian traditional counterintelligence threat continues to loom large,” Wray said during public remarks at the Spy Museum in Washington. “The Russian intelligence footprint, and by that I mean intelligence officers, is still way too big in the United States and something we are constantly bumping up against and trying to block and prevent and disrupt in every way we can.”The threat of Russian spies operating on US soil is nothing new. Russia employs not only “traditional intelligence officers” but also cut-outs, Wray said on Thursday, citing a Mexican national arrested by US authorities in 2020 and accused of assisting Russian intelligence. “I will say that, over the last several years, the US has made positive significant strides in reducing the size of the Russian intelligence officer footprint in the United States, kicking them out, in effect,” Wray said.

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Persons: Christopher Wray, ” Wray, “, Vladimir Putin, Russia –, Wray, Johns Organizations: Washington CNN —, Spy Museum, Mexican, Johns Hopkins ’ School, International Studies Locations: United States, Russian, Washington, Russia, Seattle, United Kingdom, Dutch