Newsletter

Receive regular updates about forthcoming events and other news from Intelligence Squared

Thanks

You have been added to our mailing list and will now be among the first to hear about events.

Watch

Trump and Clinton’s Nemesis: James Comey Live On Stage With Armando Iannucci

Politics &
Economics

Crime, punishment and accountability at the highest echelons of politics

‘I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job.’  – President Trump, to Russian officials visiting him in the Oval Office in 2017

James Comey is the former director of the FBI who is disliked by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in equal measure. His decision to investigate Clinton’s personal email server during the 2016 presidential election campaign is viewed by her supporters as a decisive factor in her losing the race to Donald Trump. But Trump is no fan of Comey either. In 2017 a seething President Trump summoned Comey to a meeting in the Oval Office where he pressured him to deny that Trump and his entourage were under investigation for collusion with Russia. Comey refused to give information to Trump and was fired from the FBI in May 2017. 

In June 2023 Comey came to the Intelligence Squared stage, where in conversation with acclaimed satirist and screenwriter Armando Iannucci he will discuss crime, punishment and accountability at the highest echelons of politics. Drawing on his personal experiences and with reference to his new crime novel Central Park West, Comey will reveal the detective work, backdoor dealings and tradecraft involved in FBI and Department of Justice attempts to build legal cases against criminals and political figures. 

 

Speakers for the motion

  • James Comey

    Former Director of the FBI and crime novelist. His new novel is Westport.

Chair

  • Armando Iannucci

    Writer, satirist and broadcaster

Speakers are subject to change.

Speakers

Speaker

James Comey

Former Director of the FBI and crime novelist. His new novel is Westport.

Director of the FBI from 2013 - 2017 until he was fired by President Donald Trump. He previously worked as an assistant district attorney in New York, prosecuting organised crime figures, and on terrorism cases as assistant DA in Virginia. He moved into federal law enforcement working in the FBI for many years. He is the author of books including A Higher Loyalty and thrillers Central Park West and the forthcoming Westport. 
Chair

Armando Iannucci

Writer, satirist and broadcaster

Writer, satirist and broadcaster who has written, directed and produced numerous critically acclaimed films, television and radio comedy shows. His screenplay for the film 'In The Loop' was nominated for an Oscar at the Academy Awards. His BBC series – 'The Thick of It' – was nominated for 13 BAFTA Awards, winning five during its four-series run. He is also the writer of 'Veep' and co-creator of the popular Steve Coogan character Alan Partridge.  Iannucci is currently working on a stage production of Dr. Strangelove featuring Steve Coogan and coming to the West End in Autumn 2024.