Major Controversies Surrounding James Comey: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around James Comey—discover key moments of controversy.

James Brien Comey Jr. is an American lawyer who served as the seventh director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2013 until his controversial termination in May 2017. Comey's tenure was marked by high-profile investigations, including those related to Hillary Clinton's email practices and Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election. His firing by President Donald Trump led to accusations of obstruction of justice and fueled further investigations into Russian interference. Before becoming FBI Director, Comey served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and as the United States Deputy Attorney General in the George W. Bush administration.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2016: Comey Revealed Breadth of Counterintelligence Investigation

In 2016, Comey revealed in Senate testimony the breadth of the counterintelligence investigation into Russia's effort to sway the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

2016: Criticism for Request to Apple Inc.

In 2016, James Comey and his agency were criticized for their request to Apple Inc. to install a "back door" for U.S. surveillance agencies to use.

2016: Comey Testifies Russia is Greatest Threat

In 2016, James Comey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and stated that Russia is the "greatest threat of any nation on Earth" and that they will interfere in future elections because "they know it worked" in the 2016 election. He also stated that Russia should pay a price for interfering.

2016: FBI Investigated Links Between Russia and Trump Presidential Campaign

In 2016, the FBI investigated links between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign.

January 2017: Comey's Termination Compared to Saturday Night Massacre

In January 2017, Comey's termination was immediately controversial and was compared to the Saturday Night massacre and to the firing of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates.

June 8, 2017: Comey Testifies to Senate Intelligence Committee

On June 8, 2017, James Comey gave public testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about his firing. He stated he believed he was fired because of the Russia investigation and that he had made contemporaneous notes about his conversations with President Trump because he was concerned Trump might lie about their meetings.

April 19, 2018: Justice Department Released Comey's Memos to Congress

On April 19, 2018, the Justice Department released 15 pages of documents to Congress which comprised partially declassified memos that James Comey made after his meetings with Trump.

June 2018: IG Horowitz Receives Referral Regarding Comey's Release of Trump Meeting Memos

In June 2018, DOJ inspector general Michael Horowitz told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he had received a referral from the FBI regarding James Comey's release of his Trump meeting memos to Daniel Richman, parts of which were classified "confidential" after the fact.

May 2019: Comey Op-Ed on Trump Eating Souls

In a May 2019 op-ed published in The New York Times, James Comey wrote that "Mr. Trump eats your soul in small bites."

July 2019: DOJ Decides Not to Prosecute Comey

In July 2019, the DOJ decided not to prosecute James Comey regarding his release of memos about his meetings with President Trump.

August 29, 2019: IG Horowitz Finds Comey Violated Agency Policies

On August 29, 2019, IG Horowitz found that James Comey violated agency policies when he retained a set of memos he wrote documenting meetings with President Donald Trump early in 2017, and caused one of them to be leaked to the press.

October 4, 2019: House Democrats Issue Subpoena for White House Documents

On October 4, 2019, allegations of a possible White House recording system resurfaced after House Democrats issued a subpoena for White House documents, including any possible audio tapes, following the Trump–Ukraine scandal.

September 30, 2020: Comey's Testimony During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

On September 30, 2020, James Comey testified during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the FBI's investigation of links between Russia and the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.

July 2022: Comey and McCabe Selected for IRS Audit

In July 2022, The New York Times reported that both James Comey and Andrew McCabe had been selected for the most invasive type of IRS audit after they had been fired from the FBI.

November 2022: Trump's Chief of Staff Claims Trump Wanted to Get IRS on Comey and McCabe

In November 2022, The New York Times reported that Trump's former chief of staff John Kelly said the president told him Comey and McCabe were among his perceived political enemies he wanted to "get the IRS on".

September 25, 2025: Comey Indicted on Charges of False Statement and Obstruction

On September 25, 2025, James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia on two counts: one charge of making a false statement to Congress, and one charge of obstructing a congressional proceeding.