Former FBI Director Jim Comey delivered a powerful and reflective message to his former colleagues on Tuesday night, invoking the wisdom of philosopher Marcus Aurelius to encourage resilience amid a turbulent political climate.
In an Instagram post, Comey urged FBI agents to remain steadfast and apolitical as they face growing pressures and criticisms. “The water is rough right now and the sea is likely to rage over the next four years, but your children and grandchildren will be proud that you stayed true to the values of your great institution,” he wrote.
Comey referenced Marcus Aurelius, writing, “Be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls around it.”
While Comey avoided naming Donald Trump directly, his words came as Trump prepares to return to the White House. Reports indicate that Trump’s team, including J.D. Vance, is preparing to install loyalists into key government positions, some of whom have threatened to target political opponents.
Comey alluded to the political climate in his remarks, emphasizing the FBI’s responsibility to remain impartial. “In just the last few years, you have been called upon to execute court-ordered search warrants in the home closets of prominent politicians across the aisle,” he wrote. “In the case of a Democratic senator, you found gold bars taken as bribes; in the case of a Republican former president, you found piles of top secret documents, taken for reasons yet unknown.”
These investigations, Comey noted, have predictably led politicians and their allies to accuse the FBI of partisan bias. He reminded his former colleagues that their duty is to the truth, regardless of political fallout.
“The agency’s focus should be devoted only to finding out what is true,” Comey stated. “By design, that means you will have few fans among politicians who have done something they shouldn’t have.”
Acknowledging the heightened division in modern America, Comey expressed sympathy for the challenges agents face. “The painful division in modern America has made the lying voices louder and nastier than ever, and social media has unfortunately made them easier for you and your loved ones to hear,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Comey concluded on a note of optimism, affirming the enduring role of the FBI’s mission. “But when the liars leave the stage, you will still be at work, trying to find facts in a careful and honest way.”
Comey’s message serves as both a rallying cry and a reminder for the FBI to weather the storm of political pressures with integrity, echoing Aurelius’ timeless call to stand firm amid chaos.