( CNN ) -- The director of the FBI defended Friday an agent 's actions in impersonating an Associated Press reporter to track down a suspect -- a tactic criticized by the news agency as `` unacceptable . '' In a letter to the New York Times , FBI director James Comey said the deception had occurred in 2007 , as the agency tried to solve a series of bomb threats and cyberattacks directed at a high school in the Seattle area . And he rebuffed criticism of the agency 's methods , saying , `` We do use deception at times to catch crooks , but we are acting responsibly and legally . '' Comey said the agency had determined that the suspect was a narcissist and so set out to snare him making use of that . The agent who posed as an AP reporter `` asked if the suspect would be willing to review a draft article about the threats and attacks , to be sure that the anonymous suspect was portrayed fairly , '' he wrote . As a result of the suspect clicking on a link relating to the fake story , the agency was able to track him down using court-authorized tools , Comey said . `` No actual story was published , and no one except the suspect interacted with the undercover ' A.P . ' employee or saw the fake draft story , '' he wrote . `` Only the suspect was fooled , and it led to his arrest and the end of a frightening period for a high school . '' FBI tactics 'undermine AP ' However , AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll slammed the agency 's tactics , according to an AP report . `` This latest revelation of how the FBI misappropriated the trusted name of The Associated Press doubles our concern and outrage , expressed earlier to Attorney General Eric Holder , about how the agency 's unacceptable tactics undermine AP and the vital distinction between the government and the press , '' Carroll said in a statement . The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press sent a letter Thursday to Comey and Holder expressing its deep concern over what it said was an `` inexcusable '' failure to comply with their own offices ' guidelines on impersonation of the news media . `` The utilization of news media as a cover for delivery of electronic surveillance software is unacceptable . This practice endangers the media 's credibility and creates the appearance that it is not independent of the government , '' it said . `` It undermines media organizations ' ability to independently report on law enforcement . It lends itself to the appearance that media organizations are compelled to speak on behalf of the government . '' 'Government disinformation ' In a letter sent to the Justice Department last week , the AP requested Holder 's word that the Justice Department would never again misrepresent itself as the news agency , an AP report said . The AP also asked for policies to ensure the department does not impersonate other news organizations in the future . `` The FBI both misappropriated the trusted name of The Associated Press and created a situation where our credibility could have been undermined on a large scale , '' AP General Counsel Karen Kaiser wrote . `` The FBI may have intended this false story as a trap for only one person . However , the individual could easily have reposted this story to social networks , distributing to thousands of people , under our name , what was essentially a piece of government disinformation . '' Comey 's letter said the methods used in the case were `` proper and appropriate '' under Justice Department and FBI guidelines at the time -- but acknowledged that higher approval levels would probably be needed for the use of such a technique today . `` Every undercover operation involves 'deception , ' which has long been a critical tool in fighting crime , '' his letter concluded . `` The F.B.I . 's use of such techniques is subject to close oversight , both internally and by the courts that review our work . ''
FBI director James Comey defends FBI agent 's impersonation of an AP reporter . Score: 6 `` No actual story was published , '' he says , and only the suspect was fooled . AP executive editor slams FBI 's unacceptable tactics , says they undermine credibility .