James Comey

**James Brien "Jim" Comey, Jr.** (born December 14, 1960) is an American lawyer. He was the 7th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from September 4, 2013 until May 9, 2017 when he was fired by President Donald Trump.

Comey was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from January 2002 to December 2003, and later, the United States Deputy Attorney General, from December 2003 to August 2005. As Deputy Attorney General, Comey was the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and ran its day-to-day operations.

In September 2025, Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on one charge of making false statements and one charge of obstruction.

## Early life

Comey was born in Yonkers, New York. He grew up in Allendale, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1982, majoring in chemistry and religion and later from the University of Chicago with a Juris Doctor.

## Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2013–2017)

In September 2013, Comey was appointed Director of the FBI by President Barack Obama.

### Investigation on Hillary Clinton and 2016 election

Comey was responsible for overseeing the FBI's investigation of the Hillary Clinton email controversy. His role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, particularly with regard to his public communications, was highly controversial. His decisions have been regarded by many analysts, including Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight, to have likely cost Clinton the election.

### Dismissal

Comey was fired by President Donald Trump on May 9, 2017 reportedly days after Comey asked increased funding from the Justice Department for the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. The Justice Department called the _New York Times_ report that Comey asked for more funding "totally false". In a statement by the White House, they released a statement saying that "removing Comey will help bring the Russia investigation to end" quickly and rapidly, and that it would be ended soon.

## Indictment

In September 2025, Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury on one charge of making false statements and one charge of obstruction. He pleaded not guilty.

## Personal life

Comey and his wife Patrice Failor are the parents of five children. He was raised in a Roman Catholic household.

Comey was a member of the Republican Party until 2016 when he announced that he was an Independent.

## Other websites

- Department of Justice Farewell Address
- James B. Comey – White House Biography
- James B. Comey Professional Biography, United States Department of Justice
- Transcript of James Comey's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, May 15, 2007
- "Intelligence Under the Law", a speech delivered by James Comey to the National Security Agency on Law Day, May 20, 2005
- Profile on Columbia Law School

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: James Comey
- **image**: James Comey official portrait.jpgborder
- **office**: 7th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- **president**: Barack Obama
Donald Trump
- **deputy**: Sean M. Joyce, Sean Joyce
Mark F. Giuliano, Mark Giuliano
Andrew G. McCabe, Andrew McCabe
- **term start**: September 4, 2013
- **term end**: May 9, 2017
- **predecessor**: Robert Mueller
- **successor**: Andrew McCabe
- **office1**: United States Deputy Attorney General
- **term start1**: December 9, 2003
- **term end1**: August 15, 2005
- **president1**: George W. Bush
- **predecessor1**: Larry Thompson
- **successor1**: Robert McCallum, Jr.
- **office2**: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
- **president2**: George W. Bush
- **term start2**: January 7, 2002
- **term end2**: December 15, 2003
- **predecessor2**: Mary Jo White
- **successor2**: David N. Kelley
- **birth name**: James Brien Comey, Jr.
- **birth place**: Yonkers, New York, U.S.
- **party**: Republican Party (United States), Republican
Independent (voter), Independent
- **education**: College of William & Mary, College of William and Mary
University of Chicago
- **signature**: James B. Comey Signature Autograph.png