Who is James Comey, the Former FBI Director Now Facing Felony Charges?

James Comey, the former FBI director, has been charged with two felony counts in a case linked to his past investigations. The indictment accuses him of obstruction of a congressional proceeding and giving false statements.

This marks a dramatic turn in Comey’s long-running feud with President Donald Trump, dating back to his firing in 2017.

James Comey’s Statement After Indictment

Shortly after the charges were announced, Comey shared a video on Instagram. He said his family always knew there would be “costs” for standing up to Trump but insisted he would not back down.

“I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial,” Comey declared.

Role in the 2016 Election

Comey played a major role during the 2016 presidential election. On October 28, 2016, just 11 days before the vote, he announced the FBI would review new emails related to Hillary Clinton’s private server.

Donald Trump praised him at the time, calling it a “gutsy” move. But only two days before Election Day, Comey told lawmakers there was no reason to charge Clinton. Hillary Clinton later said she believed this cost her the election.

Firing Over the Russia Probe

In May 2017, Trump abruptly fired Comey while he was leading the investigation into possible ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Trump later admitted he had planned to fire Comey regardless of the Justice Department’s advice, even calling the Russia probe a “made-up story.”

Comey testified before Congress weeks later, accusing the White House of spreading “lies, plain and simple.” He also admitted he leaked memos of conversations with Trump, hoping to trigger the appointment of a special prosecutor.

Secret Service Questioning in 2025

Earlier this year, Comey faced controversy over a social media post. He shared a photo of seashells spelling out “86 47.” Critics said it was a coded threat against Trump, the 47th president.

Comey later deleted the post, explaining that “86” was a kitchen term meaning “remove from the menu,” not a call for violence.

High-Profile Career Before FBI

Comey had already built a high-profile career before becoming FBI director in 2013. Some of his major cases include:

• Whitewater investigation into Bill and Hillary Clinton (1996)

• Khobar Towers bombing probe in Saudi Arabia (2001)

• Martha Stewart case for conspiracy and securities fraud (2003–2004)

He served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and later as Deputy Attorney General under George W. Bush before being appointed FBI director by President Barack Obama.