James Comey Handwritten Note Surfaces in FBI Records Investigation
Newly unsealed court documents reveal that former FBI Director James Comey authored a handwritten note in 2016 referencing “HRC plans to tie Trump” and “HRC health.” The note, discovered earlier this year in a long-unused FBI safe, is now central to ongoing investigations into the handling of politically sensitive FBI records.
Dated September 26, 2016, just weeks before the presidential election, the note was written on official FBI letterhead and originated from Comey’s director desk. It followed a CIA referral warning that Hillary Clinton’s campaign may have orchestrated a plan to link then-candidate Donald Trump to Russia.
Prosecutors allege that Comey later concealed this referral and related documents, potentially obstructing internal reviews and congressional inquiries.
On September 25, 2025, a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, indicted Comey on one count of making false statements and another of obstruction of justice. The charges stem from allegations that Comey misled investigators regarding the FBI’s management of sensitive political investigations in the final months of the 2016 campaign.
The handwritten note was recovered inside Room 9582, a secure compartmented information facility (SCIF) at FBI headquarters that had largely remained untouched for years. The internal review team, assigned to reform bureau record-keeping procedures following whistleblower complaints, discovered the note alongside the original CIA Counterintelligence Operational Lead document from 2016. Investigators also noted unusual access logs showing increased entries and data transfers in the SCIF during the 2025 presidential transition, raising questions about who handled these sensitive materials.
Additional filings reveal that a July 21, 2025, internal memo from the FBI’s Public Corruption Unit formally requested an investigation into the concealment of documents related to both the Clinton email and Trump-Russia inquiries. The missing CIA referral had originally been stored near the director’s office before being relocated to the secure facility.
The documents directly contradict Comey’s 2020 Senate testimony, where he claimed no recollection of the alleged Clinton plan intelligence. Senate records show that on September 30, 2020, Comey told the Judiciary Committee, “These allegations don’t ring any bells with me.” Investigators also recovered five burn bags containing hundreds of pages connected to the 2016 Crossfire Hurricane investigation, further intensifying scrutiny.
.@Comey handwritten notes and emails shaping media narrative are fascinating but previously known @FBI @FBIDirectorKash
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) November 4, 2025
In the new DOJ court filing, the FBI electronic communication or EC is a major headline.
Taken together, these records reinforce a fact pattern of alleged… https://t.co/Z7EIjRVDFR pic.twitter.com/E2NP5pHlws
FBI Director Kash Patel, who authorized the review, confirmed the discovery in June 2025 and declassified several materials, including a previously unreleased appendix from the Durham Special Counsel Report. Justice Department filings describe the combination of hidden records, delayed disclosures, and handwritten notes as indicative of “a broader pattern of concealment” by senior FBI officials, asserting that Comey’s notes “corroborate contemporaneous awareness of the Clinton plan intelligence and suggest an effort to obscure that awareness from oversight entities.”
Legal experts note that the handwritten note could play a pivotal role in the obstruction case if prosecutors demonstrate intent to conceal or destroy records. Investigators are also examining whether other FBI personnel knowingly participated in sequestering or removing sensitive materials. DOJ filings assert that the newly discovered documents, taken together, “reinforce a fact pattern of alleged obstruction and broader conspiracy” among senior FBI leadership during the 2016 election.
Conclusion
The emergence of Comey’s handwritten note and associated documents raises persistent questions about transparency and accountability within the FBI during a politically charged period. Beyond the potential legal consequences for Comey, the findings highlight systemic concerns over the handling and preservation of critical intelligence records. Whether this evidence ultimately proves obstruction of justice or institutional wrongdoing, it underscores the need for rigorous oversight, procedural integrity, and full accountability in managing sensitive government investigations.