Former FBI Director James Comey has had a long career as a U.S. attorney, federal prosecutor, and director of America’s leading federal investigation organization. James Comey was confirmed as the seventh FBI director by a vote of 93-1. The only holdout was Senator Rand Paul. Over the years James Comey held different positions in the private sector. These are five things you probably don’t know about James Comey
5. Comey is from New Jersey
Comey was born in New York on December 14, 1960. His father was a realtor and his mother was a consultant. He later ended up moving to New Jersey.
4. James Comey can sometimes be independent
Comey is best known for being a registered Republican. However, he showed his independent side when he was deputy attorney general under John Ashcroft in 2004. He was forced to square off against two of Bush’s top advisers in Ashcroft’s hospital room. Bush was attempting to have his 9/11 wiretapping program reapproved. However, Comey, who was acting attorney general, refused and even threatened to resign. This made Bush decide to change the controversial program.
3. He brought indictments against Khobar Towers suspects
Comey came back into public service in 1996 after being hired as the top federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia.
During his time in Virginia, he gained recognition for Project Exile, which sent prosecution of local gun arrests into federal court. Comey immediately gained favor from President George W. Bush after he filed 14 indictments against those involved in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 Americans
2. James Comey was once held hostage
At the age of 16, James Comey was held hostage during a home invasion.
Comey -- along with his brother and three others -- were held at gunpoint. A man in the area was arrested for being a serial rapist in the area but nobody has been charged for the break-in at the Comey residence. Mr. Comey managed to escape through a bathroom window.
1. He has been criticized for his actions surrounding Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump
Prior to leaving the FBI and political arena, Comey was criticized for his handling of both the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server and President Donald Trump’s alleged ties to Russia. In July, he broke FBI protocol and announced that he would not recommend that Clinton be indicted. He was then criticized by both Republicans and Democrats. He did not confirm the existence of the Trump investigation until early 2017.
