Federal prosecutors have disclosed a series of emails and records detailing James Comey’s outlook prior to the 2016 election. These communications include interactions with several seasoned colleagues who shared information with the media, as the legal case against the former FBI director approaches a trial set for 2026.
On Monday, an email from Acting U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Harrigan and Tyler Lemons, in response to Comey’s claims of being maliciously prosecuted, revealed that Comey had, before the 2016 election, considered the possibility of working with President-elect Hillary Clinton. He was also informed by Daniel Richman, an outside FBI official, about his media contacts regarding the Clinton email matter.
The content shared contradicts Comey’s earlier testimony where he denied endorsing the engagement of outside or anonymous journalists in significant situations. Additionally, prosecutors pointed out that Richman, identified in bureau documents as an SGE, maintained regular communication with FBI officials during a time when paperwork was expired and unsigned late in 2016, which included references to Comey’s use of personal email.
The government also presented handwritten notes from late September 2016, secured within an FBI facility, indicating Comey’s knowledge of purported information regarding Hillary Clinton’s alleged plan to associate Donald Trump with Russia. Prosecutors believe these notes could scrutinize Comey’s memory of the topic during his Senate testimony on September 30, 2020.
Richman acknowledged his conversations with journalists on Comey’s behalf, and The New York Times reported that his objective was to address unfavorable media narratives about Comey and influence future reporting. In 2017, Richman circulated Comey’s memo, according to records.
Comey faces charges of providing false statements and obstructing Congress following a grand jury indictment issued before the statute of limitations expired. U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff has scheduled the trial to begin on January 5, 2026.
According to reports, Comey pleaded with Harrigan, who was acquitted of all charges and succeeded Eric Siebert as U.S. attorney in Virginia, to seek an immediate grand jury indictment before the limitations period ended. Former President Donald Trump publicly responded to the indictment, suggesting that others involved in using the Department of Justice for their own ends could also face charges, accusing Comey of being “worse than the Democrats” while stating his belief that Comey’s testimony in 2020 was purposefully misleading.
For years, the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, criticized Comey for alleged wrongdoing linked to the Trump-Russia investigation, comparing him to Jussie Smollett in 2020, which led to impeachment discussions and labeled him as the “most corrupt FBI director” of the Obama era.
White House Advisor Peter Navarro remarked that Comey’s indictment is connected to what he sees as ongoing legal consequences for government officials involved in the framework supporting the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
Trey Gordy from Fox News reported that Comey appeared to believe he could override established procedures due to what he considered his moral authority to influence outcomes, referencing his announcements in July 2016 about Clinton and his October letter to Congress, as well as his late 2020 testimony.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stated that the indictment was “long overdue,” highlighting that Comey had received intel in 2016 about Clinton’s approval of a scheme to implicate Trump with Russia and questioned the lack of action on it. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) noted that after his firing in 2017, Trump described Comey as “intent on being restrained and destroyed,” advocating for accountability at top law enforcement levels.
