Was James Comey America's Hero?
James Comey actions were never noble. He made a series of self-serving choices. Sadly, America has paid a terrible price for his decision.
James Comey actions were never noble. He made choices that served his own interests. Sadly, America has paid a terrible price for his decision.
Comey is an American lawyer who served as the 7th director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 2013 until his dismissal by Donald Trump in May 2017.
Comey was a registered Republican. In 2013, Former President Barack Obama nominated Comey as head the FBI, replacing the retiring Robert Mueller.
Oh, But Her Emails
Under Comey’s watch, the FBI investigated Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server during her time as secretary of state. Clinton used a private email server for official public communications instead of using official State Department email accounts maintained on federal servers. For some context, Secretary of State John Kerry was the first to rely primarily on state department email accounts.
Comey Put His Thumb on the Scale
On July 5, 2016, Comey held a bizarre press conference where he openly questioned Clinton’s judgement while announcing she had been cleared by the FBI of criminal impropriety.
On July 7, 2016, Comey testified before Congress about the Clinton investigation. He repeated his criticism and discussed his decision to close the case. But he emphasized that the case was closed.
In September of 2016, things took another turn after it was revealed that Anthony Weiner was being investigated by the FBI for sexting an underage minor.
In October of 2016, the FBI confiscated Weiner’s laptop. Comey learned of the Clinton emails on Weiner’s server. He decided that he was obligated to tell Congress he was reopening the investigation.
Two weeks before the 2016 election, Comey reopened the case into Clinton. He sent a letter on October 28, 2016, to Congress disclosing the review of recently discovered Clinton e-mails on Anthony Weiner’s laptop.
Comey’s timing was controversial. Many believed he violated Department of Justice guidelines and precedent. Even worse, most pundits now agree that his actions did have the effect of prejudicing many voters against her.
Fun Fact: None of the information found on Weiner’s laptop was classified. Huma Abedin, the wife of Weiner and Clinton’s aide, was merely forwarding emails to print them. Not one was marked as classified — not one.
In January of 2017, Comey testified before Congress and confirmed that Russia had interfered in America’s 2016 election. He also confirmed that the FBI had opened an investigation into this.
On May 9, 2017, Trump sent a termination letter to James Comey:
Dear Director Comey:
I have received the attached letters from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the United States recommending your dismissal as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have accepted their recommendation and you are hereby terminated and removed from office, effective immediately.
While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.
It is essential that we find new leadership that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.
I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
— Donald J. Trump
Comey Was Certain Subconsciously Clinton Would Win
In April of 2018, Comey started his personal redemption tour.
Comey claimed he held the now infamous press conference because he was certain “subconsciously” that Clinton would win the election.
Comey told George Stephanopoulos, “I don’t remember consciously thinking about that, but it must have been because I was operating in a world where Hillary Clinton was going to beat Donald Trump and so I’m sure that it was a factor.”
Comey continued, “I don’t remember spelling it out, but it had to have been, that she’s going to be elected president and if I hide this from the American people, she’ll be illegitimate the moment she’s elected, the moment this comes out.”
Comey's latest book is Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency and Trust.
Comey Did What Was Best for Himself
Comey knew Clinton was not going to keep him on as FBI Director after he had her investigated and threw her under the bus. Then, he backed the bus over her.
Most experts agree that Clinton probably would have won if Comey had not sent the letter to Congress on October 28.
His letter dominated the mainstream media’s coverage, and this cut Clinton’s lead in the polls in half. Although she won the popular vote, she lost the electoral college.
Comey decided that he would substitute his personal judgement for established norms by the FBI. Moreover, Comey allowed what was happening in the election to taint how the FBI investigation was handled.
Although, Comey views himself as the hero in his story. Historians will probably take a different view. Comey probably made the choice to hold the now infamous press conference because he knew that Clinton would replace him as FBI Director.
Comey wanted to remain in his prestigious job and calculated he would have a better chance of remaining FBI Director under Trump.
He then placed his thumb on the scale of democracy, setting off a chain of horrible events.
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