The stormy relationship between President Donald J. Trump and former FBI Director James Comey remains one of the most defining dramas of the Trump era.
Few figures symbolized the so-called deep state resistance to President Donald Trump more than Comey, whose actions before and after his firing in May 2017 have fueled debate over political bias, misuse of power, and questions of legality.
On Thursday, with Comey himself facing new legal scrutiny, many observers are reassessing how his behavior may have crossed lines both ethical and legal — and whether accountability may finally follow.
Trump and Comey entered the national stage together under tense circumstances.
Trump, who campaigned as a Washington outsider, repeatedly criticized federal law enforcement, alleging politicization under the Obama administration.
Comey, a longtime Justice Department insider, had already sparked controversy during the 2016 election with his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe — first declaring that "no reasonable prosecutor" would charge her, then announcing days before the election that the case had been reopened.
Both Republicans and Democrats accused him of influencing the election outcome.
By the time Trump took office in January 2017, Comey's credibility was already under fire.
Trump kept him on initially, reportedly out of a desire to show independence. But within months, the relationship soured as Comey and senior FBI leadership became central players in the Russia investigation.
One of the most controversial moments came after Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017.
Within days, The New York Times reported on the existence of private memos written by Comey documenting his conversations with the president.
Later testimony revealed that Comey deliberately leaked at least one memo through a friend at Columbia University with the explicit purpose of triggering the appointment of a special counsel — Robert Mueller.
Critics called this a brazen political move.
Trump allies argued that an FBI director's weaponizing private notes to manipulate the Justice Department was unprecedented and unethical, if not outright illegal.
The Justice Department's own inspector general later concluded that Comey violated FBI policy by retaining and leaking the memos, some of which contained classified material.
Legal analysts point out that private citizens mishandling classified documents have often faced prosecution.
Comey, however, was spared formal charges — a decision many conservatives believe demonstrated a double standard in the justice system.
Another flash point was the FBI's use of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants to spy on Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
In 2019, the DOJ's inspector general released a blistering report finding "17 significant inaccuracies and omissions" in FISA applications signed by Comey and other officials.
These included the FBI's reliance on the now-discredited Steele dossier, which was funded by the Clinton campaign.
Critics argue this represented a political abuse of the nation's most intrusive surveillance tools, targeting not only Page, but by extension the Trump campaign.
For Trump supporters, the FISA scandal epitomized Comey's willingness to bend rules for partisan ends.
Comey's Public Conduct After Firing
Following his dismissal, Comey launched a public campaign against Trump, portraying himself as a principled defender of democracy.
He published a memoir, appeared on countless television interviews, and accused the president of being "morally unfit" for office.
For Trump and his base, this was proof that the FBI's former chief was never impartial but rather an active political opponent determined to undermine the presidency.
Comey also appeared to contradict himself under oath in congressional testimony about his role in the Clinton investigation, his handling of the Steele dossier, and his communications with Trump.
Critics contend these inconsistencies could amount to perjury.
Now with Comey facing a federal indictment related to mishandling official documents and potentially lying under oath, the spotlight has returned to whether he will finally be held accountable.
Legal analysts are divided on the strength of the case.
Supporters of the indictment argue that Comey's own admissions — especially about leaking FBI memos to pressure the appointment of Mueller — could provide a clear-cut violation of law.
The inspector general's findings about improper retention of classified material also bolster the case that he mishandled sensitive government documents.
Others, however, note that prosecutors in 2019 declined to pursue charges based on similar evidence, raising doubts about whether new legal efforts will succeed.
Comey's defense team will likely argue that he acted within his discretion as FBI director and that his memos were personal recollections rather than official records.
For Trump and his supporters, the case is about more than Comey. It represents a broader struggle against entrenched bureaucratic forces they believe tried to sabotage a duly elected president.
The Russia probe, launched under Comey's watch and extended by Mueller, consumed two years of Trump's presidency despite ultimately finding no collusion between his campaign and Moscow.
From a pro-Trump perspective, Comey's actions were not those of a neutral lawman but of a political actor seeking to protect allies and damage an adversary.
His maneuvers — whether leaking memos, overseeing flawed FISA warrants, or publicly attacking the president — helped fuel years of divisive investigations that hindered Trump's agenda.
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