Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
    • The Best of Reason Magazine
    • Why We Can't Have Nice Things
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

James Comey

President Donald Trump talks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House | Sipa USA/Newscom

Donald Trump

Demanding Charges Against His Enemies, Trump Conflates Justice With Revenge

The legal rationales for prosecuting James Comey, Adam Schiff, and Letitia James suggest the president is determined to punish them one way or another.

Jacob Sullum | 10.1.2025 12:01 AM

Matt Welch on the left and Peter Suderman on the right. In the center box, Chuck Schumer speaks at a podium while Hakeem Jeffries stands behind him. Bold text at the top reads “SHUTDOWN SHOWDOWN!” | Illustration: Eddie Marshall

Government Shutdown

Will a Shutdown Finally Shrink Government?

Plus: the Comey indictment, Trump deploys the National Guard to Portland, Eric Adams exits New York City's mayoral race, and a listener asks about cyclical theories of history

Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Matt Welch, and Nick Gillespie | 9.29.2025 7:51 PM

James Comey and Donald Trump, with the Steele dossier in the background. | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | CNP | AdMedia | SIPA | Alex Edelman | ZUMA Press | Newscom

James Comey

In Trump's Tussle With James Comey, You Should Hope Everybody Loses

The administration is pursuing a vendetta, but Comey and the FBI deserve scrutiny and reduced stature.

J.D. Tuccille | 9.29.2025 7:00 AM

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017 | Christy Bowe/Zuma Press/Newscom

James Comey

Trump's Public Comments Could Further Complicate the Shaky Case Against James Comey

By demanding that the Justice Department punish the former FBI director for wronging him, the president provided evidence to support a claim of selective or vindictive prosecution.

Jacob Sullum | 9.28.2025 6:15 PM

rollcallpix166969 | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Trump Administration

Kash Patel Tellingly Ties James Comey's Indictment to the Legally Unrelated 'Russiagate Hoax'

The FBI director's portrayal of the case exemplifies the emptiness of his promise that there would be "no retributive actions" against the president's enemies.

Jacob Sullum | 9.26.2025 3:00 PM

Former FBI Director James Comey raises his right hand to be sworn in to testify before a Senate committee hearing in 2017. | Ron Sachs/CNP / Polaris/Newscom

James Comey

James Comey Indicted in a Case Prosecutors Don't Seem Excited About

There is ample evidence to suspect prosecutors are just doing President Trump's dirty work rather than following the facts of the case.

Joe Lancaster | 9.26.2025 12:40 PM

A phone screen with the TikTok logo on it, in front of a partial image of the Chinese flag, including three yellow stars. | Omar Marques/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

TikTok

TikTok's (Sorta) American Owners

Plus: James Comey indicted, some New York schools stripped of funding, NATO being tested, and more...

Liz Wolfe | 9.26.2025 9:30 AM

James Comey, his Instagram post with "86 47," and the U.S. Capitol. | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | Stefani Reynolds | Pool via CNP | SplashNews | Midjourney

Surveillance

Did the Secret Service Surveil James Comey Without a Warrant After '86 47' Post?

The former FBI director's cringey Instagram photos are not an "exigent circumstance" that allows law enforcement to circumvent the Constitution.

Joe Lancaster | 7.10.2025 2:00 PM

Former FBI Director James Comey is seen next to his Instagram post that reads "86 47" | Illustration: Eddie Marshall | SMG | ZUMA Press | Newscom | Midjourney

Free Speech

James Comey's Deleted '86 47' Instagram Post Is Obviously Protected by the First Amendment

A lot of conservatives are falling prey to the same snowflakery they criticize.

Billy Binion | 5.16.2025 4:48 PM

John Stossel is seen next to former President Donald Trump | Stossel TV

Big Government

Trump Promised To 'Drain the Swamp.' He Did the Opposite.

Total spending under Trump nearly doubled. New programs filled Washington with more bureaucrats.

John Stossel | 5.8.2024 1:20 AM

jamescomey_1161x653 | Alex Edelman/ZUMA Press/Newscom

FBI

Don't Worship an FBI That Took the Steele Dossier Seriously

Why trust an agency that conceals information from judges but prosecutes us for lying to it?

Scott Shackford | 11.17.2021 3:20 PM

James-Comey-12-4-19-Newscom | SMG/Zuma Press/Newscom

FBI

The FBI's Systematic Dishonesty

The problems revealed by the DOJ inspector general go far beyond "errors" and "sloppiness."

Jacob Sullum | 12.18.2019 12:01 AM

zumaamericastwentyfive927350 | SMG/ZUMA Press/Newscom

FBI

James Comey Asked the American People To Trust the FBI. Why Should They?

In an interview with Fox News, the former FBI director admitted mistakes with the FISA process but defended his team.

Robby Soave | 12.15.2019 9:58 PM

sfphotosfour379608 | SIPA/Newscom

FBI

Inspector General Michael Horowitz's Testimony on FBI Failures Should Be a Wakeup Call for the Media and the GOP

Republicans were wrong to side with the state on privacy issues, and the media was wrong to lionize anti-Trump G-men.

Robby Soave | 12.11.2019 9:38 PM

jmpphotos045790 | Jeff Malet Photography/Newscom

FBI

The Inspector General Report Is a Huge Blow to the FBI's Credibility. Why Is It Being Treated Like Vindication?

The government's surveillance of Carter Page might not have been improperly motivated, but it was still seriously flawed.

Robby Soave | 12.9.2019 8:28 PM

comey_1161x653 | Alex Edelman/ZUMA Press/Newscom

James Comey

Report: James Comey Broke FBI Rules by Leaking Trump Memos, but He Didn't Reveal Classified Info to the Press

Partisans, to your battle stations!

Scott Shackford | 8.29.2019 1:40 PM

Large image on homepages | Terrence Antonio James/TNS/Newscom
Oliver Contreras/CNP/AdMedia/Newscom

Department of Justice

NYT: Rosenstein Suggested Secretly Taping Trump, Using the 25th Amendment to Oust Him

Rosenstein was not happy with how Trump handled the James Comey firing.

Joe Setyon | 9.21.2018 3:20 PM

Large image on homepages | Ron Sachs/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom

FBI

After the IG Report, Let's Kill the FBI While We Can

It's time for this intrusive, politicized, and overly powerful agency to be dumped.

J.D. Tuccille | 6.19.2018 7:01 AM

Large image on homepages

FBI

Trump Says Comey 'Totally Protected Hillary' but Was Fired for Actions That Hurt Her

The president reverts to his original, highly implausible excuse for dismissing the FBI director.

Jacob Sullum | 6.15.2018 3:15 PM

Large image on homepages | JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS/Newscom

James Comey

I.G. Report Won't Settle Any Arguments About Hillary Clinton's Emails

The DOJ's inspector general concludes that James Comey acted wrongly but not politically and that an FBI agent said "we'll stop" Trump from winning but didn't act on it.

Matt Welch | 6.14.2018 4:15 PM

Large image on homepages

Donald Trump

Did Trump Obstruct Justice? Does It Matter?

Conduct that does not meet the legal criteria for an obstruction charge could still be serious enough to justify impeachment.

Jacob Sullum | 6.4.2018 4:15 PM

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300