91572019 James Comey, a media star ater Trump fred him 2 years ago, now dogged by ‘spying’ accusations against FBI | Fox News RUSSIA INVESTIGATION - Published 2 hours ago James Comey, a media star after Trump fired him 2 years ago, now dogged by ‘spying’ accusations against FBI By Lukas Mikelionis | Fox News James Comey: The FBI doesn't spy, they investigate Louisiana Republ John Kennedy says former FBI Director James Comey dir think the American people were smart enough to pick @ president in 20 In the two years since President Trump fired James Comey, the former director of the FBI has gone from the left’s folk hero - rewarded with a book deal for his supposed selfless public service - to someone at the epicenter of an FBI “spying” scandal that threatens to tarnish the bureau's reputation. Trump dismissed Comey on May 9, 2017, for his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. itpsww foxnews.comipolticsftwo-years-after-guting 6red-by-rump-comeys-reign-atbremains-unde-fre-amid.spygate 18152019 Jomes Comey, a media star ater Trump fred him 2 years age, now dogged by spying’ accusations against FI | Fox News Following Comey's ouster, his former boss Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel of the Russia investigation, which went on to find no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia ~ and could not reach a conclusion on whether to charge Trump with obstruction of justice. SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: COMEY IS A 'HACK POLITICIAN’ WHO HAS TARNISHED THE FBI'S REPUTATION Initially, Comey enjoyed relative success after losing his job, getting showered with media attention for his anti-Trump talking points. This propped up his book ~ "A Higher Loyalty” published last year ~ - for which Comey reportedly received $2 million and which posted sales of 600,000 copies in just one week. But Comey’s star has undoubtedly faded amid allegations that the FB! under his command not only used an unverified dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele to justify surveillance of Trump campaign official Carter Page, but also that the bureau sent an undercover investigator to meet with ex-Trump aide George Papadopoulos in 2016. Attorney General Bill Barr alleged, in the wake of the Mueller report, that the bureau engaged in spying against Trump associates during the 2016 presidential campaign. “| think spying did occur,” Barr said during a hearing on Capitol Hill last month. “The question is whether it was adequately predicated. ... Spying on a political campaign is a big deal.” itpsww foxnews.comipolticsftwo-years-after-guting 6red-by-rump-comeys-reign-atbremains-unde-fre-amid.spygate 2189/5/2019 James Comey, a media star after Trump fired him 2 years ago, now dogged by ‘spying’ accusations against FBI | Fox News “| think spying did occur ... The question is whether it was adequately predicated. ... Spying on a political campaign is a big deal.” — Attorney General Bill Barr Barr later clarified in the hearing: “I am not saying that improper surveillance occurred; 'm saying that | am concerned about it and looking into it, that's all.” COMEY DEFENDS FBI'S INVESTIGATION IN RESPONSE TO NYT ‘SPYING’ REPORT Comey dismissed Barr's comments at the time, saying he “never thought of” electronic surveillance as “spying.” “When I hear that kind of language used, it's concerning because the FBI and the Department of Justice conduct court-ordered electronic surveillance,” Comey added. “I have never thought of that as spying” But Comey was put on the defensive again following a recent bombshell New York Times report detailing the FBI efforts to investigate the Trump campaign. The FBI reportedly sent a woman to meet with Papadopoulos at a bar in London during the campaign. The woman, who identified herself as Azra Turk, asked Papadopoulos point-blank if Trump was collaborating with Russians to swing the 2016 election Comey issued only a scant defense of the issue, telling Los Angeles radio station KNX 1070 AM that the practice was justified due to the ongoing threats from Russia. itpswww foxnews.com/polticsfwo-years-after-guting red by-rump-comeys-rign-atfbremains-unde-fre-ami-spygate 8