James Comey, in full James Brien Comey, (born December 14, 1960, Yonkers, New York, U.S.), U.S. attorney and law enforcement official who served as director (2013–17) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Comey came from an Irish American family. His paternal grandfather was a police officer, and his father worked in commercial real estate.
James Comey attended the College of William & Mary, where he studied chemistry and religion (B.S., 1982), and the University of Chicago Law School...
James Comey’s federal employment included service as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York (1987–93) and for the Eastern...
As an undergraduate at the College of William & Mary, James Comey wrote a thesis comparing theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and televangelist Jerry Falw...
James Comey is famous for his disclosures (2016) regarding the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server as secretary...
As a young lawyer, Comey worked mostly in the offices of United States attorneys (federal prosecuting attorneys with regional jurisdiction). In 1987 he became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, serving under Rudolph W. Giuliani. In 1993 he moved to Virginia and became a partner in the McGuireWoods law firm. Returning to government service, Comey became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia in 1996. In 2002 he was promoted to U.S. attorney and put in charge of his old jurisdiction, the New York Southern District. In a high-profile case, his office brought charges of financial misconduct against the homemaking entrepreneur Martha Stewart; she was convicted in 2004.
In December 2003 Comey became deputy attorney general, the second highest official in the Department of Justice (DOJ).
elections would continue to be a major threat. Less than a week later, on May 9, Trump abruptly fired Comey, citing the recommendation of DOJ officials who faulted Comey’s conduct during the Clinton probe. Notably, the FBI director was accused of treating Clinton unfairly, with both the July press conference and the October letter to Congress being deemed inappropriate. Critics, however, alleged that Comey was dismissed because of the Russia inquiry, and Trump later conceded that the investigation had been one of his reasons for firing Comey.
Why is James Comey famous? James Comey is famous for his disclosures (2016) regarding the FBI ’s investigation of Hillary Clinton ’s use of a private e-mail server as secretary of state and for his firing (2017) as FBI director by Pres. Donald Trump after Comey testified to Congress regarding the FBI’s investigation of possible collusion between ...
In 2018 Comey published the memoir A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, in which he was highly critical of Trump, alleging that the president was “unethical, and untethered to truth.” The book—as well as Comey’s often pointed comments during the ensuing media tour—drew the ire of Trump, who referred to Comey as a “slimeball.” The memoir later served as the basis for the miniseries The Comey Rule (2020), with Jeff Daniels in the lead role. Comey later wrote Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust (2021).
Comey was easily confirmed by the Senate, and his 10-year term began on September 4, 2013. Notable events during his tenure included the agency’s investigation into Hillary Clinton ’s use of a private e-mail server during her term as secretary of state.
He testified that he had written memorandums on all his interactions with Trump, because of concerns that the president might lie about what was said.
They ci ted Comey’s handling of the probe into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, a controversy that many believe helped Trump defeat the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election.
Watch via CNNgo or on CNN TV at 8 p .m. ET on Wednesday, April 25. At a glance, Comey, a career prosecutor, is an unlikely candidate to take center stage in the most charged political drama of this generation, but history shows he has a tendency to turn up in the headlines. Here are seven things to know about James Comey:
In 2002, Comey , then a federal prosecutor, took over an investigation into President Bill Clinton’s 2001 pardon of financier Marc Rich, who had been indicted on a laundry list of charges before fleeing the country. The decision set off a political firestorm focused on accusations that Rich’s ex-wife Denise made donations to the Democratic Party, the Clinton Library and Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign as part of a plan to get Rich off the hook. Comey ultimately decided not to pursue the case.
Memos add new details to Comey's story. The incident took place in the evening of March 10, 2004, according to Comey’s account, with then-Attorney General John Ashcroft ill and incapacitated in a hospital intensive care unit.
In July 2016, Comey invited scorn from Republicans – and quiet frustration from Democrats – when he revealed his office’s decision not to recommend charges against Clinton, though not before publicly excoriating the candidate for her actions.
In October 1977 , he and his younger brother were held captive in their home by the so-called “Ramsey Rapist.”. The armed man, who cops were hunting following a series of home invasions, had recently assaulted two babysitters in the area.
He prosecuted Martha Stewart. When lifestyle guru Martha Stewart was indicted in 2003 on a series of charges connected to a dodgy 2000 stock deal, it was Comey who brought the charges. ”This criminal case is about lying – lying to the FBI, lying to the SEC, lying to investors,” Comey, then a US attorney for the Southern District of New York, ...
James Comey was controversially fired from his position as director of the FBI after his work probing whether members of Donald Trump's campaign team colluded with Russia.
The Comey Rule is a political drama based on the book A Higher Loyalty written by the former FBI director shortly after he was fired.
Trump told reports on May 10 he had fired Comey because he "wasn't doing a good job".
James Comey released his memoir 'A Higher Loyalty' shortly after he was dismissed by Trump in 2017. The book forms the basis of a two-part Showtime mini series, The Comey Rule which continues on Sky Atlantic TONIGHT (October 7).
Jeff Daniels plays James Comey in the two-part mini series set to air on Showtime at 9pm ET/PT, September 27, 2020. Brendan Brendon Gleeson will take on the role of the president.
Many of the incidents depicted in The Comey Rule are highly disputed by Trump.
Rosenstein had sent a memo to Sessions, forwarded to Trump, which listed objections to Comey's actions during the investigation into Senator Hillary Clinton's emails.