July 5, 2016 – James Comey announces no charges against Hillary Clinton over her private email server. Trump denounces the decision as proof the system is “rigged.” Meanwhile, the FBI begins probing Russian interference in the 2016 election.
October 31, 2016 – Trump praises Comey after he reopens the Clinton email case just before Election Day, calling it “the right thing.” Critics say it unfairly aided Trump’s campaign.
Trump Presidency and Breakdown of Trust
January 6, 2017 – Comey privately briefs President-elect Trump on the Steele dossier. He begins documenting all interactions with Trump immediately afterward.
January 27, 2017 – At a private dinner, Trump asks Comey for loyalty. Comey resists, offering “honest loyalty” instead.
February 14, 2017 – In the Oval Office, Trump urges Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn, saying “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go.”
Firing and Fallout
May 9, 2017 – Trump fires Comey amid the FBI’s Russia investigation, later admitting “this Russia thing” was a factor.
May 12, 2017 – Trump tweets a veiled threat about possible “tapes” of his conversations with Comey.
June 8, 2017 – Comey testifies before the Senate, saying Trump asked him to end the Flynn probe and that he believes he was fired to ease pressure from the Russia investigation.
Public Battles and Reports
April 12, 2018 – Comey’s memoir A Higher Loyalty blasts Trump as “unethical” and “ego driven.”
December 9, 2019 – A DOJ Inspector General report debunks Trump’s claim that political bias fueled the FBI’s Russia probe, though it cites errors in FISA warrants.
September 30, 2020 – Comey testifies before Senate Republicans. His statements about whether he authorized anonymous FBI sources later form the basis of criminal charges.
Escalations in 2025
May 15, 2025 – Comey sparks controversy with an Instagram photo of seashells arranged as “8647,” interpreted by Trump as a coded assassination threat. Comey deletes the post, calling it a misunderstanding.
July 16, 2025 – DOJ fires Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey, a federal prosecutor, citing presidential authority.
September 20, 2025 – Trump urges Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue Comey before the statute of limitations expires. He replaces U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert with former personal lawyer Lindsey Halligan, who brings the case to indictment.
Indictment
September 25, 2025 – James Comey is indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstruction related to his 2020 testimony. Prosecutors allege he falsely denied authorizing FBI officials to serve as anonymous media sources. Comey pleads innocence, vowing to fight the charges.
Trump hails the indictment as vindication, calling Comey “one of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to.”
