James B. Comey, born on December 14, 1960, is an American lawyer and former government official who served as the seventh Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2013 until his dismissal by President Donald Trump in 2017. Comey was born in Yonkers, New York, and raised in Allendale, New Jersey. He graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1982 with a double major in chemistry and religion and later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 1985.

Comey's legal career began with a clerkship for United States District Judge John M. Walker Jr., followed by a position as an associate at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. He entered public service in 1987 as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including organized crime and terrorism. His reputation as a strong and ethical prosecutor grew, leading to his appointment as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 2002. In this role, Comey oversaw the prosecution of high-profile cases, including those against Martha Stewart and the Gambino crime family.

In 2003, Comey was appointed Deputy Attorney General under President George W. Bush. One of his most notable moments in this role came during the 2004 NSA warrantless surveillance controversy. Comey, who was acting as Attorney General while John Ashcroft was hospitalized, refused to reauthorize the program, leading to a dramatic confrontation with White House officials. This event solidified his reputation as a defender of the rule of law.

After leaving the Department of Justice in 2005, Comey worked in the private sector, including as General Counsel for defense contractor Lockheed Martin and later for hedge fund Bridgewater Associates. In 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Comey to serve as Director of the FBI. During his tenure, Comey faced significant challenges, including the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as Secretary of State and the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Comey’s handling of the Clinton email investigation, particularly his decision to publicly announce the reopening of the investigation just days before the 2016 election, was highly controversial and led to widespread criticism. In May 2017, President Trump abruptly fired Comey, citing the FBI's handling of the Clinton investigation. Comey’s dismissal and the subsequent revelations about his interactions with Trump, including allegations that the President sought to interfere in the Russia investigation, led to the appointment of Robert Mueller as Special Counsel to oversee the Russia investigation.

Following his departure from the FBI, Comey wrote a memoir titled *A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership*, published in 2018, in which he reflects on his career and the principles he believes should guide public service. Comey has since remained a prominent public figure, frequently commenting on issues related to law, justice, and ethics.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Comey