James Comey served as the 7th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from September 2013 until May 2017. Comey was unexpectedly fired by President Donald Trump, setting off a chain of events that led to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Now over 6 years removed from his controversial tenure leading the FBI, many wonder – what is James Comey doing now in 2024?
James Comey’s Post-FBI Career
Since his firing from the FBI, James Comey has kept a relatively low public profile, especially compared to his peers who have transitioned to high-profile media or legal careers. However, Comey has emerged as both an author and in-demand public speaker.
Books by James Comey
In April 2018, just under a year after his firing, Comey published his best-selling memoir A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. The book recounts his career in law enforcement and the events surrounding his dismissal as FBI director. It sold over 2 million copies worldwide.
In 2021, Comey published his first novel, The President’s Vampire, released under the pen name James Barlow. The book is a thriller about a secret organization that combats supernatural threats against the United States.
Table 1. Books Written by James Comey
| Title | Year | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership | 2018 | Memoir |
| The President’s Vampire | 2021 | Fiction |
Public Speaking Engagements
Since 2018, James Comey has regularly delivered paid keynote speeches on the topics of ethical leadership and government oversight. His speaker’s fee is reported to be $100,000 per speech.
Some notable speeches include:
- January 2019: Keynote at the Startup Grind Global Conference
- March 2020: Leadership lecture at Northwestern University
- April 2021: Featured guest at politically-themed comic convention Politicon
As per Comey’s Speaker’s Bureau website, he continues to accept new speaking opportunities as of early 2024.
Comey’s Ongoing Legal and Political Activities
Though he is no longer involved in day-to-day law enforcement matters, James Comey has remained vocal on legal and political issues in the public discourse.
Reaction to Special Counsel Investigations
Comey has provided commentary to print and broadcast media regarding the Special Counsel investigations that succeeded his tenure and the 2016 election interference:
- Robert Mueller Investigation (2017-2019) – Comey gave mixed reviews of Mueller’s findings regarding obstruction of justice by Trump detailed in the final 448-page report. Though Comey praised Mueller personally, he expressed disappointment that stronger conclusions were not reached given the evidence.
- John Durham Investigation (2019-2022) – Comey dismissed the notion, put forth by Trump allies, that his FBI leadership was illegal or corrupt in its handling of matters leading up to the 2016 election. So far, the 3.5-year Durham investigation has not produced evidence to criminally charge Comey over his actions as FBI Director related to Crossfire Hurricane or FISA warrant applications.
Views on Political Issues
In broadcast interviews and opinion articles, James Comey continues to provide his perspective on salient political issues in national discourse:
- He has criticized both Republican and Democratic rhetoric regarding “defunding the police” and trends toward ignoring law and order.
- Comey has denounced threats to democratic norms and worries about the precedent of overturning elections without evidence of fraud.
- On social media and foreign policy issues, he warns of the danger of Twitter mobs and an increasingly belligerent authoritarian Russia.
Though his tenure was marked by political controversy, Comey continues to assert his identity as an independent arbiter guided by institutional norms and the rule of law rather than partisan loyalty.
Table 2. James Comey’s Quotes on Current Political Issues
| Issue | Comey’s Stance | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Police Reform | Against “defund” movement | “We need to be very careful that, in our righteous passion, we don’t lose sight of respect for the rule of law.” |
| Election Integrity | Against overturning results without fraud evidence | “The greatest threat to that institution, since our founding 243 years ago, is efforts to undermine confidence in the result of free and fair elections without evidence.” |
| Foreign Policy | Against the “defund” movement | “A president needs to understand…what the CIA does best — secretly collecting and analyzing foreign intelligence.” |
Comey’s Future Plans and 2024 Outlook
As James Comey passes his mid-60s in age, what does the future hold as he looks to the latter stages of his legal and political career? Comey remains visible as an author and speaker in 2024 but has ruled out future runs for political office.
Comey had taught seminars on ethical leadership at his alma mater William & Mary College of Law. He may seek to further academization in the coming years through university fellowships or faculty appointments focused on law enforcement, applied ethics, or national security curriculum.
On the media front, dramatic portrayals of James Comey’s career continue on the small screen. There is periodic speculation that additional feature details of Comey’s FBI tenure will emerge. However, Comey himself has signaled that major new personal revelations are unlikely at this juncture years removed from the key events.
Conclusion
While many of his peers have leveraged high-profile government controversies into greater fame and political influence, James Comey has largely kept focus inward on personal writing projects and speaking to institutional audiences in the 6+ years since his dismissal by President Trump.
While maintaining visibility by commenting on national issues at the intersection of law, politics, and ethics, Comey’s bandwidth is centered on questions of justice, abuse of power, and threats to the democratic process that defined the latter stages of his DOJ and FBI leadership.
The 2024 midterm and presidential elections may draw Comey out as a more vocal advocate of accountability and oversight if once again partisan rancor undermines public faith in electoral and legal norms that Comey believes uphold society.
Though the Comey legacy is inextricably linked to the unprecedented legal tumult and political realignment set off by the 2016 campaign, the former FBI Director continues to seek a definition of his career’s closing chapter in terms broader than the scandals and intrigues that marked his departure from public life at the end of the Obama presidency and turbulent start of the Trump era.
Frequently Asked Questions about What is James Comey Doing Now
What is James Comey best known for?
James Comey is best known for his controversial tenure as FBI Director under the Obama and early Trump administrations. Comey oversaw high-profile investigations such as Hillary Clinton’s private email server and Russian interference efforts in the 2016 US presidential election. His dramatic firing by President Trump in May 2017 touched off a chain of events leading to the Mueller investigation.
Where does James Comey work now?
Comey is not currently employed by any political or law enforcement institutions. His primary occupations at present are authorship and public speaking. Comey has published two books, including a best-selling memoir and a novel. He frequently gives speeches to corporate, university, and political conference audiences focused on ethical leadership.
What was the result of Trump’s firing of James Comey?
Trump’s removal of Comey on May 9, 2017, led the Deputy Attorney General to appoint special prosecutor Robert Mueller to head an independent investigation into Russian election interference, including probing whether Trump obstructed justice in impeding the FBI investigation. The Mueller report did not exonerate Trump of obstruction and informed Congressional dialogue on possible impeachment.
Did James Comey break the law as FBI Director?
Multiple inspector general reports critiqued Comey’s handling of elements of 2016 election-related investigations, such as timely notification of Congress. However, after a lengthy special counsel probe under John Durham, no criminal misconduct charges have been brought against Comey over his leadership as FBI Director.
How has James Comey criticized Donald Trump?
Since leaving the FBI, Comey has directly rebuked Trump in memoirs, speeches, and testimony over what he sees as an erosion of accountability and ethical leadership in the Presidency. This includes allegations of improper political pressure on law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Comey also warned of the long-term damage Trump’s false election fraud rhetoric could inflict on democratic institutions.
Does James Comey have political ambitions for office?
While he has commented extensively on political matters, Comey has ruled out running for elected office himself. He continues to define his public role more as a law enforcement official turned leadership ethics advocate rather than a partisan politician. Comey spoke at the 2020 DNC in opposition to Trump’s re-election but asserted independence from party loyalty.
What does James Comey say about the 2024 election?
While not endorsing any candidates, Comey continues to warn that the spread of disinformation and denial of free and fair electoral outcomes by those dissatisfied with results poses grave danger. He has urged Americans of all parties to continue embracing facts and evidence regarding the vote count and certifying the legitimate victor to ensure orderly continuity of political power.
Is James Comey active on any social media platforms?
No. Unlike many former public officials and political commentators, James Comey has no verified personal Twitter account or other social media handles. This matches Comey’s more under-the-radar profile and avoidance of much direct partisan punditry in traditional broadcast media as well in recent years.
Are there plans for any future movies or shows about James Comey?
There continues to be periodic speculation about additional dramatized on-screen portrayals focused on Comey’s tenure leading the FBI investigating 2016 election controversies. Past examples include Jeff Daniels starring as Comey in the 2018 TV mini-series The Comey Rule. Talk of cameo appearances or advisory roles for Comey himself often arises whenever new projects enter development.
What is James Comey’s book about Trump called?
Comey’s 2018 memoir reflecting on lessons of leadership from his law enforcement career while recounting disturbing interactions with President Trump is titled A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. The book’s themes center on integrity and ethical conduct versus expedient self-interest from his vantage point as FBI Director suddenly removed by Trump under questionable motives centered on the Russian investigation.
Does James Comey believe Trump colluded with Russia?
While not definitively claiming illegal conspiracy, Comey asserts his strong suspicion that Trump and his associates welcomed Russian assistance during the 2016 election and were motivated to obstruct the FBI probe out of political self-interest and instinct for authoritarian control over law enforcement for personal gain rather than nobler governance motives.
Is James Comey a lawyer?
Yes, Comey earned a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of Chicago Law School after earlier bachelor’s work in chemistry and religion at the College of William & Mary. He served as a federal prosecutor focused on terrorism and organized crime cases before rising to senior Justice Department roles under George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.
How tall is James Comey?
James Comey stands 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters) tall. His unusually tall stature was often noted in news coverage of the typically shorter politicians and officials he interacted and clashed with while FBI Director including President Trump, AG Jeff Sessions, and Hillary Clinton.
Is James Comey a Republican or a Democrat?
Registered as a Republican for most of his career, Comey asserts his identity as a nonpartisan independent focused on facts, institutional norms, and the rule of law rather than partisan loyalties. Comey investigated political leaders from both American parties over his decades in law enforcement. He says Trump’s presidency and complicit GOP politics marked the end of his ability to support the current aims of the Republican party.
Where does James Comey give speeches?
Post-FBI, Comey has given paid keynote speeches on ethical leadership to a variety of convention, corporate, educational, and political audiences. Reports indicate his standard speaker’s fee is around $100k per event. Comey delivered university lectures, keynoted the tech Startup Grind conference, and appeared at the comic convention Politicon among other venues welcoming the controversial former FBI Director as an expert headliner.
What does James Comey say about Hillary Clinton’s emails?
While critical of Clinton’s private server setup, Comey continues to defend his decisions as FBI Director regarding 2016 election year notifications to Congress around re-opening inspection of her email case. Comey claims unprecedented electoral factors justified informing lawmakers of new evidence 11 days before the presidential vote, even while concluding shortly before the election that no prosecution was merited over the handling of classified information.
Will James Comey run for office in Virginia?
There has been occasional speculation that Comey could mount an independent centrist challenge for Virginia Governor or Senator given his state residency and reputation. However, Comey has stated he has no plans or interest in seeking elected political office himself going forward. He continues to define his public role as a nonpartisan advocate on law enforcement and leadership issues rather than a politician or pundit.
What will James Comey do next?
As he passes his mid-60s in age, Comey shows no signs of fully retiring from public view. He seems likely to continue penning books, giving paid speeches, and making media commentary appearances focused on leadership ethics and rule of law issues given Comey’s experience at the center of major law enforcement controversies intersecting politics, elections, and foreign policy during his storied career.
