James Comey Opens Up About Ego, Distrust and More

The photograph of James Comey is huge;almost half a page. The self acknowledgment of being a fellow human being - “All people have flaws and I have many” delineated into “stubborn, prideful, overconfident and driven by ego,” merits respect! As does“ what are the values at the core of this country...” As I read this interview, and considered implications from my own flawed perceptions and analysis I felt increasingly frustrated by a semantic reality. These are all words! Just words; whatever meanings each of us attribute to them. Over time. What actual deeds, associated with, if not “caused by,” them would enable necessary outcomes. Such as civil interchanges. Between kin. Friends. Neighbors.Even strangers. During these conflicted times? Locally? Regionally? Nationally? Globally?What behaviors need to be seeded if mutual, sustainable, trust is to grow and be harvested?Mutual respect? Mutual help, if and when needed, in which limited human and nonhuman resources necessary for individual and systemic well being is equitably available, accessible and shared?This edited interview doesn’t note personal accountability for any of its “actors.”It doesn’t stimulate readers to explore, to consider, if and when “compromise,” however delineated,and by whom, transmutes into complacency. Into active complicity enabled, and even fostered, by willful blindness of harmful deeds.Deafness of painful voiced words and deeds,as well as by muted “others.” Willful ignorance of facts and fictions.

Comey's book tour is an attempt at whitewashing his culpability and major part in creating a Trump "presidency" and the demise of democratic values and morals we all hold dear. A man with integrity would not have done what Comey did by stirring up the rehash and unsubstantiated "Hillary emails" issue literally days before the election. Apparently Comey already knew of the Russian collusion with Trump but he chose not to release that information. A conscious choice by Comey and one that has been disastrous for our Country and the world order ever since. Comey should have titled his book, "I AM SORRY". If he had a shred of integrity that is all he would say now to all of us including Hillary Clinton and stop trying to spin his role in all of this mess as well as profit on his misdeeds. Crawl back into the hole you came out from Comey .... just another grifter. RESIST! VOTE!!!

I'm still not entirely sure I understand the actions taken by Mr. Comey...I think there are many things that haven't come to light. But I can tell you that I am already tired of people criticizing Mr. Comey for trashing trump about his hair, skin etc. If people would bother to read the book before commenting on what's in the book, then they would know that that is only a small part of the book. Stop making decisions on someone's character by just reading the "cliff note" book reviews or watching/listening to one interview.

Comey also worked for Ray Diallo for three years as his top legal guy. No way Comey could’ve survived that corporate culture if he didn’t have integrity, transparency and truthfulness. It’s amazing that when someone acts how Comey acts folks think he’s full of himself and full of it! How jaded we’ve become.

I watched Comey's interview with Colbert and thought he came across as human, honest, humorous (mildly). I'm reading his book and I'm impressed with the man. I view him as a man of integrity, which we are sorely lacking in our leaders today - especially this GOP Congress.

Micheal is an awesome interviewer. Absolutely an unbiased reporter. What a refreshing interview. At the top his game, bar none. If I was a billionaire I would buy the Times and have Michael run it. True democracy at work here with Micheal’s brains squarely in tune with the nuances of asking the right questions at the appropriate time of an interview. Godspeed Michael

COMEY Came across to me as a highly intelligent, forthcoming, emotionally open person, who is aware of, and readily admits his flaws, shortcomings and failures. Which is a helluva lot more than can be said for the Trump-ster Dumb-ster. I trust implicitly Comey's identifying Trump's style and model of "leading" (down the path to the damned of course) as in the mode of mafia bosses. Few people are more highly familiar with the inner workings of the mafiosi and the capos than Comey. His description of the contrast between Trump and other political leaders ( I do NOT consider Trump to be a political leader at all--he is profoundly ignorant of what democracy means and how it functions). Comey said that other leaders refer to external factors that influence their thinking and decision. Whereas Trump, by contrast, refers exclusively to how the course of events makes him feel personally. In a democracy it is antithetical to have the leader act like a monarch, dictator or mafioso. Or all there. So Trump, tragically, is both anti-democratic and anti-Democratic. He's also anti-survival-of-the-human-race and the planet Earth.

Anyone thinking that this lying, leaking, spinning out of control ex-government official is good is wrong. Comey caused the Clinton campaign to disrail and now is attempting to do the same to the Trump administration, if you step outside the politics of the moment you have to wonder about Jim Comey, is he a fixer, is he evil with bad intent, or is he attempting to manuever himself in a self serving orgy of chaos ?

Who can blame him for cashing in.

Superb work, Michael.

Six more questions questions you should have asked Comey: 6. Comey claims that Trump appeared to be obsessed with the Russia collusion claims and that this suggests knowledge of guilt. Is this obsession at all surprising, given that this claim was being used by Trump’s political enemies to undermine the legitimacy of his presidency? 7. According to Comey, Trump asked him to consider formally investigating the Russia hooker allegation, which he vehemently denied. Trump also asked him to continue investigating the “Russia thing.” Isn’t this exculpatory? Why would the President ask for an investigation if he was, in fact, guilty? 8. Comey admits he is not a regular note taker and only did so in Trump meetings only because he distrusted and disliked Trump. These writings were made for a potential litigation-related purpose, not as a matter of regular practice. Won’t this make these memos inadmissible under the FRE? 9. Did Comey break the law by sharing classified information with his law professor friend? Why not? 10. Isn't Comey's grandstanding book and road show doing damage to his own and the FBI's reputation? If he is the guardian of public service rectitude, why is talking about hand size, hair, tan lines and hookers? Why get into the gutter with Trump?

A fan of the Daily, I think Mr. Barbaro got this interview wrong. He seemed to have a predetermined thesis about Mr. Comey’s character, one that turned the interview into a cross-examination intended to prove motive and create a storyline that pitted Comey’s ego against Trump’s. Instead he got outmaneuvered by a former prosecutor, notably in his feeble attempt to identify a pattern of go-it-alone decision making, which Comey rebuffed and dismantled. In the end, Barbaro’s gambit seemed amateurishly dogged. Worse, it meant opportunities to learn more about Comey, ones that might have come from a more responsive and intuitive line of questioning, were missed. (I thought Colbert did better getting Comey to think and talk off script.) I’m still a fan of the podcast, but disappointed.

Although Mr. Comey will admit to having an ego, he stoutly insists that his decision to release information about Ms. Rodham-Clinton just before the election was not hubris, but his professional obligation. Now, in an attempt to delude us by swiping at Trump, he wants us to see what a fine, upstanding government employee he really is. He is laughing all the way to the bank.

Incisive questions. Good interview. Thanks.

The FBI has been involved in politics during and after J.Edgar Hoover maintained secret files on sitting members of the three branches of constitutional authorities. The only relevant issues are was the law broken by those in office, and if so, what facts support the case and what procedures must be followed to make charges stick. In Comey's case we have a series of mis-steps starting with the Clinton emails and continuing with the Trump affairs. We reflect on the Al Capone incident. The FBI was chasing evidence to convict Al Capone for racketeering, including bootlegging. What took Al Capone down? Tax evasion. They caught Al evading taxes and he was charged, convicted and jailed for long term that exceeded his natural death behind bars. That may be the simple learning respecting current leadership and affairs. Mr. Trump apparently has over 500 entities in his vast family holdings. Do you think that all of these entities are squeaky clean? No tax evasion? How about elections funding laws? Is the Stormy $130k pay-out, huch money, an infringement of the election finances rules? Sometimes 'simple' is good. Looking for an elaborate connection of interference reaching back to Vlad Putin's control seems high-risk and subject to lawyers splitting hairs while dancing on the head of a pin. I think the path of least resistence to follow-through on obtaining all his tax returns and conduct a forensic tax audit. If that fails to support evasion, we still have Stormy's pay-off

It looks like the swamp is being drained, unfortunately, it is simultaneously being polluted to the point of becoming a toxic mega site from the ensuing flotsam. That seems to be where we are.

Speaking of ego, now that Guiliani's on board, we'll get a rerun series of 9/11. Here I thought we wouldn't get this 'till the 20th or 25th anniversary.

I disagree with the opinion that Comey brought down Hilary Cinton. Ms. Clinton brought herself down. She was foolish to denigrate Bernie Sanders, and the DNC was on a power trip right behind her or maybe in front of her. Together they severly damaged the Democratic party. Comey is taking a beating for doing his job. Yes, he may have mixed justice with politics, and for that he is paying the price. But the way he is being portrayed by some in the media is akin to shooting the messenger. The lesson is before drawing a weapon, read the message.

It is clear from reading his book that Comey had great respect and regard for President Obama.It is also clear that Comey is a straight shooter as revealed in his rather tedious memoir.Except for the juicy stuff on Trump.Based on Trump’s historical and reckless regard for truth and Comey’s lifetime commitment to truth and integrity a collision was inevitable. In the short term POTUS wins that struggle.

What exactly are Comey's motivations? (comment) While FBI Director- 1. protect independence of FBI from political pressure. (Trump demanded loyalty and obedience.) 2. not give in to Trump's demand for loyalty- (wishy washy evasions in responding to Trump) 3. Keep his job as FBI director- (fired!) After being fired by Trump in May 2017 1. Leak a memo such that independent counsel was appointed- (succeeded) 2. Defend his actions in congressional testimony-(yes) 3. Write a book to tell his side of the story-(yes, but he also exposed his own weaknesses and contradictions in writing the book.)

Mr. Barbaro, I'm a big fan of the Daily, but I was truly disappointed in your line of questioning. You seemed intent on drawing connections between Comey's actions at different times that were arbitrary, and biased towards supporting a conclusion you already had made. By all means ask tough questions, but re-listen to your Podcast and ask yourself if you fairly acknowledge the unprecedented nature of the events Comey was dealing with. You ask Comey why not go to the Justice Dept? Seriously? Given Sessions role in the Trump Campaign? And Rosenstein's subsequent memo to justify firing Comey? Very disappointed in this interview, your line of questioning was more in line with that of Fox News. History may very well show Comey to have played a huge role in protecting the rule of law and the Republic. It may also determine that he played a huge role in getting Trump elected in the first place (i.e. re-opening Hilary E-mail investigation days before election). Now that would've been an interesting line of questioning.

I was eager to listen to this interview. I generally enjoy Mr. Barbaro's interviews, am fairly neutral on Comey and wanted to learn more. What surprised me most was Mr. Barbaro. He seemed not to be listening very well to the answers he was receiving. He seemed uncharacteristically bent on making points - like repeatedly pointing out similarities between Comey and Trump that just fell flat after numerous cringe-worthy attempts. I felt Mr. Comey had nuanced and thoughtful answers that required a more in-the-moment, mindful investigation than we experienced. I'm still a fan of the show. And I'm more impressed with Mr. Comey than I ever expected to be. It's a complicated world!

comical but unpleasant how slow the host spoke at the end - actually the whole podcast could be dramatically improved if the web-player just had a speedup-button.

Michael Barbaro nailed this interview. Of all the Comey interviews this week, and there are many, this was the most in depth, interesting and revealing. Mr. Comey is clearly very a very skilled interviewee and I felt Michael challenged him respectfully and delivered a riveting 40 minutes!

I love the Daily and have listened to almost every episode since it started, but this interview was a huge disappointment -- the questions were superficial and reflected trite/stock reactions to issues discussed more broadly in the media rather than listening to Comey and asking deeper questions based on his responses. I got the impression that Barbaro didn't want to "go easy" on him so instead was adversarial at times that it was not merited and annoying. He should have spent the time developing more thoughtful questions instead. Playing into the "Comey is full of himself" storyline for the whole episode was exhausting and so unoriginal. The attempt to blame hubris for all of these decisions through unsupported inferences and comparison of Comey and Trump was even more disgraceful. What a huge disappointment! I'm not sure how I feel about Comey but this interview certainly did nothing to make me understand his motivations and actions better.

On one hand I am very angry at Mr. Comey for essentially killing Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the Presidency with his last-minute e-mail attack on her. On the other hand, I'm happy he is speaking up now to try to help bring The Con Don and his Robber Baron brethren down. I believe sexism had a lot to do with his treatment of Ms. Rodham-Clinton. His wife was her supporter and he also might have been afraid that it would taint his FBI job. Either way it was an ego-driven action that greatly affected HIStory. Unfortunately, everything political is tainted right now but not by Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton. In retrospect I'm happy she didn't have to go through the hostility and hate she would have faced as the first female President of OUR United States of America. The women, black and student movements that are happening as a result of her loss can be attributed to her courage and strength. Thanks, again, Ms. Rodham-Clinton! You have helped bring about a sea-change by bringing out the voices of women, minority populations and young people around the world. Be Proud!

Questions you should have asked Comey: 1. Upon first meeting with the newly elected President Trump, Comey presented him with supposedly top-secret “intel” that Trump had been compromised by the Russians, in a classic “honey pot” trap involving Russian hookers at the Ritz Moscow. Comey explained that CNN and others had this supposed intel and were looking for an excuse to report on it. Was this meeting a "setup" to aid coverage by CNN? 2. Comey did not disclose that the alleged intel was actually campaign dirt paid for by the Clinton campaign. Wasn't this a highly misleading omission, and arguably an act of disloyalty to the new president? 3. This Russia hooker disclosure was a shocking introduction. It was sure to raise Trump’s suspicion that Comey and the intel community were out to get him, and were willing to use false (so Trump claims) intel to do it, or at least were looking for Hoover-like leverage against him. Is it at all surprising that Trump would ask Comey for a profession of “loyalty” to faithful, honest service to his office as FBI director (which reports to Trump) given this bizarre introduction? 4. Why is Trump’s request to Comey to remain behind to talk about the "Russia thing" evidence of a consciousness of wrongdoing, when Comey first asked Trump for a private meeting to brief him on this material?

If Michael Barbaro has read James Comey's book this interview doesn't seem to reflect a particularly thoughtful reading. His questions and breezy tone consistently seem to beg for superficial answers to shallow narratives that Director Comey is simply an ego maniacal showboat. Having read the book it is difficult not to take away that while Comey admittedly struggles with ego--not surprising for someone who has had numerous high profile jobs--he is scrupulous (one could argue exhaustively so) about moderating it with voluminous input from senior staff and other trusted advisors. One might disagree with the some of his decisions--I certainly did--but after reading his detailed recollections and analysis of the position the FBI was in during the election it would be difficult to argue that those decisions were made out of ego. For those who want to latch onto a few easy quotes pulled out of context (Trump's hands, hair etc) as evidence that he is getting into the same gutter this administration they are missing the self awareness, reflection and nuance with which James Comey writes. If there were any criticism I could make it might simply be that the former director is almost fetishistic in his scrupulous honesty. No doubt there can be downsides to that but given the level of partisan spin and downright lies that pass for our political discourse that scrupulous honesty feels like a bulwark against the chaos and insanity at the heart of the Trump presidency.

The media ignores the clear narrative at work for their political agenda. This was an FBI director who started his relationship with the President by waving the Dossier in front of Trump. Leverage? Comey was clearly focused on building a case against the President from Day 1. In fact, before Day 1, as he used questionable FISA warrants to surveil the campaign. But he started keeping a record of meetings, a practice he claims he didn't often engage in, because he had already determined the President could not be trusted. He was actively attempting to undermine the Administration, baiting them with behavior and non-answers, while alleging the worst intent after the fact. Trump realized, not quickly enough, that Comey was a snake, a suspicion confirmed by Rosenstein. Are we to believe that Comey was so frail and insecure that he couldn't challenge the President's supposed untoward requests? His only recourse was to write down his recollections to be used to prosecute the President after the fact. Based on his pre-existing investigations, the Dossier, the leaks and his behavior, it becomes clear Comey either intended to build/maintain leverage over Trump or target him for prosecution. Comey was playing judge and executioner of a man he determined was lesser, notwithstanding the sanctity of the vote. Comey is an egomaniac in charge of the FBI, a very dangerous situation. Now if only the Times would investigate Bridgewater and his tenure there.

James Comey made a historic mistake before the election and may have handed the presidency to Donald Trump, however his commitment to the rule of law will show him to be a great historical figure who looked evil in the eye and did not blink.

I appreciate that Comey recognizes that his own self righteousness likely led to his throwing of Hillary Clinton under the bus. I don't think he intended to do it, but his unwillingness to self reflect (until now apparently) is a common and tragic flaw of many in power that can have disastrous consequences. Comey ("Let justice roll down") reminds me of Javert (“Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect”) or Edmond Dantes ( "Thou shalt tear out the dragons’ teeth, and shall trample the lions under foot, saith the Lord”), down to the point of quoting scripture to defend what they consider an almost divine blessing to administer their unyielding form of justice.