What Happened to James B. Comey?

James B. Comey's career in public service began after graduating from the University of Chicago Law School, serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and later as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted high-profile cases like Martha Stewart's conviction. He rose to national prominence as the U.S. Deputy Attorney General under President George W. Bush from 2003 to 2005. After a period in the private sector with Lockheed Martin and Bridgewater Associates, Comey was appointed Director of the FBI by President Barack Obama in 2013.

His tenure as FBI Director (2013-2017) was dominated by two highly controversial investigations. In 2016, he publicly announced the FBI's findings regarding Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, stating no criminal charges were recommended but criticizing her conduct. Just eleven days before the 2016 presidential election, Comey informed Congress that new emails related to the Clinton investigation had been discovered, a decision widely criticized for its potential impact on the election. Following the election, Comey confirmed the FBI was investigating alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, a probe that reportedly frustrated President Donald Trump.

On May 9, 2017, President Trump abruptly fired Comey, citing his handling of the Clinton email investigation, though Trump later indicated the Russia investigation was also a factor. Comey's dismissal and subsequent testimony to Congress, where he revealed memos detailing his interactions with Trump, fueled accusations of obstruction of justice against the President. In the years following his firing, Comey transitioned to a career as an author, publishing the bestselling memoir 'A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership' in 2018, followed by 'Saving Justice' in 2021, and several crime novels including 'Central Park West' (2023), 'Westport' (2024), 'FDR Drive' (2025), and 'Red Verdict' (2026).

Comey has also engaged in public speaking and taught ethical leadership at his alma mater, the College of William & Mary, and was a Hertog Fellow at Columbia Law School. However, his post-FBI life has been marked by ongoing legal challenges from the Trump administration. In September 2025, Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his 2020 testimony. This case was dismissed in November 2025 by a federal judge who found the interim U.S. Attorney had been improperly appointed.

Most recently, in April 2026, Comey was indicted for a second time, this time in North Carolina, on charges of making and transmitting a threat against the President. The charges stem from a social media post in May 2025 of seashells arranged to spell '86 47,' which prosecutors interpreted as a veiled threat against President Trump (the 47th president, with '86' being slang for 'get rid of' or 'kill'). Comey surrendered to authorities in Virginia on April 29, 2026, and is scheduled for a court appearance in Greenville, North Carolina, on May 11, 2026. Legal experts suggest the prosecution faces significant challenges, particularly in proving Comey's intent to threaten under Supreme Court precedent, and Comey's defense team plans to argue vindictive and selective prosecution.