CHR - James Comey's Difficult Relationship With The Facts

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Having covered every FBI Director since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Comey “86 47” seashell incident is another example of the former FBI Director’s difficult relationship with the facts. 

I know from firsthand experience, Comey plays fast and loose with the truth.

DEEP DIVE

Late Friday, Comey was interviewed in Washington D.C. by the Secret Service. A day earlier, Comey posted a photo on Instagram that spelled out “86 47” in seashells.    

Comey, a former prosecutor and FBI Director, took down the post almost immediately and claimed ignorance of its violent implications for President Trump. 

According to Merriam Webster, ​​ Eighty-six is slang "to throw out," "to get rid of," or "to refuse service to."  The dictionary says it originated in the 1930’s, but these days to get “86’d” can be interpreted as a threat of harm. President Trump is the 47th Commander in Chief. 

The seashell incident got me thinking of my own experience covering Comey as FBI Director, his back story and how he continues to play fast and loose with the facts.

I have reported on every FBI Director since 2001 and each brings their own style to the job.  

Director Mueller, who took the job just days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was a professional. I only saw his veneer crack once.  Our 2013 Fox News reporting revealed significant ties between an FBI agent and the American cleric Anwar al-Awlaki who had direct contact with the 9/11 hijackers.  On Mueller’s watch, the FBI’s mishandling of Awlaki's case allowed the cleric to flee the US and rise through the ranks of Al Qaeda’s leadership.

Director Wray, who recently resigned, was not media friendly.  He opted for outlets such as 60 Minutes where he could rightly underscore the threat from the Chinese Communist Party and also avoid uncomfortable questions about the FBI’s investigation of January 6th and alleged weaponization of the bureau against Biden administration critics.

Director Comey, who served after Mueller and before Wray, stood out for his carefully crafted public persona.  Comey seemed to work hard to come across as open, transparent and a man of the people.  For a time, Comey opened the FBI’s doors to journalists (known as beat reporters)  who regularly cover the bureau and Justice Department.  

I can’t recall how many “brown bag” lunches Comey hosted at FBI headquarters, but one stands out, because Comey’s ego was on full display.

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The transcript and audio from the May 11, 2016 event remains online under the title, “Director Comey Remarks During May 11 ‘Pen and Pad’ Briefing with Reporters.”

At that time, the Loretta Lynch Justice Department and the Clinton Campaign insisted the probe into Clinton’s use of a personal server for government business was nothing more than a security review.  It was astonishing how many seasoned beat reporters parroted this ridiculous characterization.  

As we sat around the FBI conference table, I put my HIllary Clinton email question to Director Comey who inadvertently confirmed that the Clinton email probe was, in fact, a criminal investigation.

TRANSCRIPT FBI WEBSITE: 

Catherine: On the (Hillary Clinton) emails director Comey, are you doing a security inquiry?

Director Comey: I’m sorry?

Catherine: On the e-mails are you doing a security inquiry?

Director Comey: I don’t know what that means?

Catherine: So it’s a criminal investigation?

Director Comey: We’re conducting an investigation. That’s the bureau’s business. That’s what we do. That’s probably all I can say about it.

Catherine: The reason I ask is because Mrs. Clinton consistently refers to it as a security inquiry, but the FBI does criminal investigations. I just want to see if you can clear that up.

Director Comey: Right, it’s in our name.

Catherine: Okay.

Director Comey: I’m not familiar with the term security inquiry.

Link to listen:

Comey’s comments struck a nerve because, for months, Hillary Clinton and her team had downplayed the FBI criminal probe into her private email server and her mishandling of highly classified information. 

The ground rules for these reporter “pen and pad” sessions are well understood.  Each news outlet gets a question, and if time permits, there are more rounds.

My final question for Director Comey focused on Mrs. Clinton’s mishandling of classified records, and an apparent double standard. Comey seemed exasperated at the prospect of another question about the Clinton case. 

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