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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Civic Brief • Government

James Comey

James Brien Comey Jr.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

James Comey is an American lawyer and former FBI director whose tenure became a flashpoint in U.S. political controversies. He led the bureau from 2013 to 2017, overseeing investigations into Hillary Clinton's emails and possible Trump campaign ties to Russia.

What it is

James Brien Comey Jr. served as the seventh director of the FBI from September 2013 to May 2017. Before that, he was deputy attorney general under President George W. Bush and a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. He studied at the College of William & Mary and the University of Chicago Law School.

Why it matters

Comey's handling of the Clinton email investigation during the 2016 election drew intense political scrutiny. His public statements and the timing of the investigation's reopening became central to election controversies. He was later fired by President Donald Trump in May 2017, amid the FBI's Russia probe.

Key details

After leaving the FBI, Comey became an author and public speaker. He wrote A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership and Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust. His role in major political events continues to attract attention, though he has no direct Canadian public office or career.

In short

  • Served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017.
  • Central to the 2016 Clinton email and Russia investigations.
  • Fired by President Donald Trump in May 2017.
  • Author of two books on leadership and justice.
Canadian angle

James Comey’s most prominent role was as FBI director during investigations that affected U.S.-Canada political and security discussions, but he has no major direct Canadian public office or Canadian-based career.

Quick questions

Who is James Comey?
James Comey is an American lawyer and former FBI director known for his role in high-profile investigations during the 2016 election.
Why was James Comey fired?
President Donald Trump dismissed him in May 2017, citing his handling of the Clinton email investigation.
Has James Comey written any books?
Yes. He wrote A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership and Saving Justice: Truth, Transparency, and Trust.

Sources

  1. Federal Bureau of Investigation — https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/james-b-comey
    Supports: Office dates, position as seventh FBI director, education, and career background.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Comey
    Supports: Birth date/place, career summary, and major controversies.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Comey
    Supports: Appointment as FBI director, tenure dates, and overview of controversies.
  4. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/political-figures/james-comey
    Supports: Career overview, FBI tenure, and later public life.
  5. National Press Foundation — https://www.nationalpress.org/speaker/james-comey/
    Supports: Books, post-government work, and biographical details.
  6. Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/James_Comey
    Supports: Appointment and Senate confirmation details, plus firing date.