A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership
In his forthcoming book, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.
Mr. Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. He previously served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. deputy attorney general in the administration of President George W. Bush. From prosecuting the Mafia and Martha Stewart to helping change the Bush administration’s policies on torture and electronic surveillance, overseeing the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation as well as ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey has been involved in some of the most consequential cases and policies of recent history.
And, in case you haven’t heard, somebody suddenly realized that Cohen, Trump’s lawyer, is notorious for recording conversations with his various associates. In the words of former FBI Director James Comey, “Lordy, there may be tapes!”
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Here’s what I wrote on Twitter earlier this evening
Has it occurred to you yet that the premature release of @Comey ‘s book was a deliberate leak to undermine the right wing media’s build up to the scheduled release. Took the focus off of their lies and put on on facts. Well played sir, well played indeed.
Comey testified to Congress he never authorized any leaks to the media(other than his memos). McCabe wrote a defense that his false statements were due to chaos, quickly corrected, and about matters that he was allowed to do and that Comey authorized it. Who to believe? IG report says Comey, but not before McCabe collected $500k for his legal defense fund.
Conservatives, right wingers, Republicans etc. all seem to have a difficult time being able to express humanity beyond the family, local tribe, their in group, their mob, their party, or their local co-religionists. Ultranationalism is a manifestation of this. And Trump has managed to find a way to exploit this phenomenon to his own advantage. However, he and his co-narcissists wound the nation by excluding all the wonderful, genuine, talented Americans that do not look , think, and act just them. Putin smiles, because the wound is crippling, and may even be lethal if left unattended.
I’ve just finished Comey’s book, and find in it the first credible justification I’ve seen of his public statements about the Clinton email investigation. I guess he isn’t so good at organizing complex arguments in real-time conversations. (I’m the same way.)
To be clear, I still think his 28 October statement tipped the scales in favor of Trump. But there was probably no other course for Comey.
The real question is: What now?
Also a hint that the fix was in. McCabe was suppressing the investigation.
Interesting tidbit that I don’t know if Comey’s book mentions- Weiner’s laptop is not the issue. The e-mails were handed over to Justice Department by Weiner’s attorney, according to text messages between two FBI agents. Likely trying to cut a deal.