James Comey is in the news again — a lot.
The former Westport resident and FBI director is being investigated by the Secret Service. His new book, “FDR Drive” — a legal thriller and exploration of political extremism — will be published tomorrow.
Meanwhile, 2 other Westporters — TV journalists Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs — taped a fascinating interview with him, for their “Sanity” podcast.
They talked about Comey’s viral “86-47 post,” the Trump administration, right wing outrage, extremism, the FBI, the Supreme Court, the 2016 election, and much more.
Including Westport.
Comey reveals what he’d say to Hillary Clinton, if they bumped into each other at Viva Zapata (one of his favorite restaurants). And he adds that his next book will include a scene there.
Listen to the “Sanity” podcast with James Comey here.
Screenshot from the “Sanity” podcast (from left): Dave Briggs, Alisyn Camerota, James Comey.
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As the world focuses on Gaza and Ukraine, another humanitarian crisis continues — with much less attention — in Sudan and Chad.
New York Times Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur “genius grant” recipient (and 1991 Staples High School graduate) Lynsey Addario is making sure it’s not completely forgotten.
Her photo essay in The Atlantic — “The Crisis of American Leadership Reaches an Empty Desert” — shines a heart-wrenching light on this other humanitarian disaster.
Lynsey’s photos and text are available here (paywall). (Hat tip: Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
Sudanese refugees in the hot sun near a United Nations truck. (Photo copyright Lynsey Addario for The Atlantic)
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The Westport Library Spring Book Sale would not be possible without the help of dozens of volunteers.
Among them on Saturday: 2 Jenns (below):
(Photo/John Karrel)
The Book Sale continues today (Monday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; fill the Library logo bag for $10, or your own equivalent bag for $8; individual books half price).
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Westport PAL awarded 8 college scholarships last week, to Staples seniors who will graduate next month.
Honorees included Chloe Barnes, Katie Fitzgerald, Aiden Goldenberg, Rachel Pontoriero, Lily Rimm, Eva Sladek, Edward Van der Merwe and Olivia Zhou.
All proceeds from PAL’s golf event go to the scholarship fund. The 63rd Chief Samuel Luciano Golf Tournament is set for September 8, at Longshore.
The shotgun start is followed by cocktails, dinner, raffles and prizes. Registration and more information is available here.
Westport PAL president Craig Bergamo (far left), with scholarship honorees.
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More awards: On Friday, the Sunrise Rotary Club gave Paul Harris Awards — one of the highest honors the international service organization can give — to 16 people.
Recipients included Charlie Adams, Daniel Ambruso, Brien Cartagena, Sister Maureen Fleming, William R. Harris Jr., Jay B. Paretzky, Vincent Penna Sr., Anna Rycenga, Frankie Smith, Anne Lowrie, Ines SaCouto Curwen, Tomas SaCouto Curwen, Susan Hawley, Jonathan Hendrickson, Matthew Hendrickson and Robert Rubenstein.
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Meanwhile, both Sunrise Rotary and the Westport Rotary Club participated in Saturday’s international Epic Day of Service.
Among the projects: Sunrise Rotarians helped out at the Open Doors shelter in Norwalk. “What a great feeling to give back,” says volunteer Alma Sarelli.
Volunteers at Norwalk’s Open Doors shelter.
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Yesterday’s “Day of Champions” raised $175,000 for Westport-based Experience Camps — the non-profit that runs summer camps and year-round programs for children and teens grieving the loss of a parent, sibling or caregiver.
“06880” ran a few photos yesterday. Here are some great bonus shots:
(All photos/Kerry Long)
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There’s plenty of great fresh produce at the Westport Farmer’s Market.
And plenty that if not sold, would be wasted.
Food Rescue rescues food. They work with restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores, to pick up unused, perishable meat, fruit, vegetables and more, and deliver it to food pantries and homeless shelters.
Every week, Farmers’ Market vendors donate food that is still fresh, delicious and healthy but unsold. It would go to compost or into the waste stream — but instead it is distributed it neighbors in need, including the Gillespie Center (around the corner from the WFM), and Fridegeport in Bridgeport.
The program is funded through donations and grants. The Westport Farmers Market continues every Thursday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Imperial Avenue parking lot), through November.
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More than 3 years ago, “06880” profiled Matt Yemma.
The 2002 Staples High School graduate had just started his own crypto PR firm.
He’s now launched Endeavor Communications. The agency provides media guidance to clients in financial and professional services, fintech, real estate, advertising, adtech, and climate services.
Already they’ve held Qualitative Brokers, a fintech firm that creates algorithms for advanced execution trading, leading to Deutsche Borse scquiring a majority stake. And 427, a tech company that analyzes and predicts climate risk for governments and private businesses, which led to an acquisition by Moody’s.
Matt Yemma
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Longtime Westport resident Esther Brodie died peacefully in her home of 71 years on Thursday. She was 98.
She and her husband Richard built their Burr Farms Road home largely by hand, in 1954 and ’55.
A Bronx native, her parents were recent immigrants. Born during Purim, she was named for the holiday’s heroine queen.
After graduating from Hunter College, where she competed on the diving team, she taught physical education at Taft High School in the Bronx. She met her future husband at Camp Berkshire.
Their son Scott was in the first kindergarten class at Burr Farms Elementary, a few yards from their home. In 1962 Esther returned to teaching phys. ed., in New Canaan. She earned a master’s degree and 6th-year certificate in counseling. She taught for 3 decades, including some children of former students.
Esther served as president of the local chapter of Hadassah, and was active in the Temple Israel sisterhood. Her avocations included modern dance, tennis and meditation. She attended concerts in the area, and enjoyed Broadway shows.
For over 3 decades, Esther was a senior staff member at Camp Berkshire. When it closed in the 1980s, she and Richard built a vacation home on the lake. They spent every summer and frequent Thanksgivings there.
After retiring Esther studied piano, participated in a labyrinth project for women in prison, and volunteered for the census. She joined the Y’s Women investment club, and greeted new residents to her road with welcome gifts.
Esther is survived by her sons Scott (Susan) and Bruce Marie), grandchildren Joshua, Emma, Melissa, Clara and Ben, and their respective spouses and companions Hilary, Kevin, David, Mariah and Claudia.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the Hunter College Foundation.
Esther Brodie
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It’s been a crazy month. There’s a lot coming up.
But the star of today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature has not a care in the world.
(Photo/Susan Garment)
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And finally … in honor of yesterday’s Experience Camp “Day of Champions” (story above):
(Be a champ! Support “06880”! Please click here! Thank you!)
Condolences to my classmate Scott.
Thank you, Eric.
“Sanity” is NOT 👎🏻
Incredible that Comey is being investigated for his stupid post. When anyone (public servants, judges, their families, etc) says anything to hurt felon 47’s widdle feewings they get death threats.
It’s not “incredible” it’s accountability. Comey’s post wasn’t just a dumb joke; it came from a former FBI Director and could be seen as undermining due process. If we care about trust in institutions, then public figures should be held to the same standards, not just when it fits a political narrative.
And of course, no one should be getting death threats. That’s criminal, full stop. But let’s not act like only one side deals with hate or harassment. Some people get investigated for a vague post, while others get canceled or fired for wearing the wrong hat. Accountability has to go both ways. If it doesn’t, it’s not justice, it’s just politics. You’d think even the Westport PD could recognize that, in between posting coffee selfies and ticketing parked cars.
Priceless. Yes ask HRC about accountability when comey gave the election to felon 47, who still hasn’t been held ACCOUNTABLE for 1/6 and all of his felonious pursuits. LOL.
Ah yes, because the definition of “accountability” now depends entirely on who you voted for. Funny how Comey went from public enemy to folk hero the moment his actions accidentally helped your side, even though he also cleared HRC just days before the election. Convenient memory.
As for “felonious pursuits,” if charges are filed and convictions happen, that is accountability through the legal system, not Twitter mobs or hashtags. Until then, it’s just noise.
We either believe in due process and equal standards, or we believe in vengeance. Can’t have both. Pick one.
So typical white rich privileged westporter response Susan. You can tell you live in a bubble.
So Should Comey be prosecuted for his Russian collusion lie that cost us taxpayers millions of dollars and was proven all false. He basically was trying to influence an election?? Election interference maybe.
Should these Democrats that have lied about Joe Bidens health for years and are now profiting off of books they are writing be held accountable for lying to the American people . I’m sure it’s NO for you becuse they are democrats. Ask your liar Chris Murphy since he was one of the liars. Who was running the country seeing that they used a docusign for his signatures.
Should Comey and Hillary be prosecuted since Hillary destroyed her computers hard drive. NO she’s a democrat.
And if you tell the truth about Jan 6th he said to go march peacefully and patriotically. Prove me wrong Susan. Trump asked Botox Pelosi for National Guard and she didn’t approve it. Prove me wrong Susan
Should Kamala Harris be held responsible for the riots in Minnesota as they burned down businesses with billions of dollars in property damage as well as people got hurt and killed . NO because they are Democrats. Tampon Tim and Kamala helped bail out rioters and took 3 days to send in national guard.
See your a hypocrite. Only your political view matters.
And it’s funny how basically this post is promoting Comeys Book. What a joke.
Liberal hypocrisy of Westport!! Oh has that town changed.
Get lost Jeff. We’re all sick and tired of your agressive name calling and angry posts. No one wants to hear it. You’re out of Westport. Move on!
The claim that Trump asked Pelosi for the national guard is false. (I know this link is from AP but I think you can handle it):
https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-fact-check-trump-biden-rioters-0b3406e02c86bd057e15c9d8c16ccd51
What actually did do was to sit ideally by, refusing to take any action despite pleas from his family and staff. (Brace yourself, this one is from Reuters. Oh, the humanity!):
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-capitol-probes-season-finale-focus-trump-supporters-three-hour-rage-2022-07-21/
Russell, the irony here is that you’re citing outlets that openly editorialize most political stories, then treating them as definitive sources. The AP article itself admits the Trump administration discussed the deployment of the National Guard with D.C. officials prior to January 6, which has also been echoed by people like former Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller. But instead of engaging with that nuance, you frame it as a “false claim” because the exact phrasing doesn’t fit a preferred narrative.
As for Trump “sitting idly by,” it’s fair to criticize his delay in making a public statement but pretending that’s the same as orchestrating or approving the riot is a leap not backed by legal action, even after multiple high-profile investigations. The Reuters piece, again, leans heavily on inference and tone over hard evidence.
We can all agree that Jan. 6 was chaotic and unacceptable. But if we’re serious about facts and accountability, that has to include acknowledging complexity, not cherry-picking articles that reinforce our priors.
I responded to the assertion that on 1/6, Trump asked Pelosi to bring in the national guard. Why you chose not to resond to that and instead deflected to whatever may or may not occurred before 1/6 I couldn’t tell you. The topic is what he did or did not do on 1/6.
And waiting 3 hours to call in the NG while there’s riot going on can only be interpreted as condoning the riot. “Take down the mags” ain’t exactly a call for order, is it?
Sorry you don’t like my sources.
Fair point, let’s stay focused on Jan. 6 then. You’re right that Trump didn’t call in the National Guard during the attack. But the larger claim that he requested or authorized Guard support before the 6th is well-documented by individuals like former DoD officials and even included in timelines released by Capitol security leadership. That context matters, because it shows an attempt at planning that D.C. leadership, including Pelosi’s appointed sergeant-at-arms didn’t act on. That’s not deflection; it’s connecting the chain of responsibility.
As for the “take down the mags” comment; absolutely, it’s troubling. But I don’t see how that single phrase proves intent to condone a riot. Poor leadership and incitement aren’t the same thing, and conflating them weakens accountability by turning it into politics, not principle.
And for what it’s worth, I don’t mind your sources. I just prefer that all sources, even ones that challenge our biases, get considered. Otherwise, we’re not really debating facts. We’re just picking teams.
Doesn’t matter what Pelosi or the Sgt-at-arms did with regard to the NG. Only POTUS or the governor can call in the NG. If Trump authorized or requested them prior to 1/6 (which is it, anyway?) why weren’t they there to begin with? When he finally relented, then they actually showed up.
Lastly, telling a roiling, armed crowd to “fight like hell” is not a call for peace, is it? I think you know that what he wanted was to disrupt the electoral count process by any means possible, and that’s just what he attempted. Or was actually a day of love and tourism?
Your argument rests on a selective interpretation of both law and intent. Yes, only the President or a governor can officially authorize the National Guard; and Trump claims he did just that days before January 6th. The fact that no deployment occurred points to a potential breakdown in the chain of communication or implementation, not necessarily a lie. That’s worth a serious investigation, not casual dismissal.
And let’s be honest, “fight like hell” is the kind of political rhetoric that’s been used by figures across the spectrum for decades. It’s vague, emotional language, not a literal incitement. If that phrase alone is disqualifying, then we’d have to start retroactively indicting half of Congress.
You’re free to believe Trump wanted to disrupt the count “by any means necessary,” but belief isn’t the same as proof. If the January 6th committee had found a smoking gun – an actual plan with orders to storm the Capitol – you can bet it would’ve been front-page news for months. Instead, we got headlines about optics and tweets. It’s not about defending bad behavior, it’s about making sure the standard of accountability applies evenly, and isn’t weaponized based on who the target is. If we want truth, we need more than partisan assumptions and emotionally charged slogans.
Tampon Tim? That’s rich! Two greasy hot dogs please, hold the BS. LOL you’re hilarious, still!!! And BTW I could care less.Enjoy felon47’s tariffs!
BTW, Jeffie, I’m not from Westport. As usual you’re wrong – maybe try stand up comedy?
If I had five dollars for every time Jeff Arciola wrote” white rich privilege” about Westports, I’d have more money than Elon Musk.
Hi Dan, appreciate the depth and breath of your reporting, but would question why give James Comey and his new book free publicity. Had Comey not facilitated Hillary Clinton’s demise with his 11th hour, precedent-breaking announcement that she was innocent but “sloppy,” he’d be a minor footnote! But like so many–Michael Cohen comes to mind–he’s leveraging his infamy into a book deal. My hope is that this is the last we hear of Jim Comey, his book, and his sea shell troubles.
I believe HRC was largely to blame for her own demise than Comey. Didn’t run a great campaign and was lazy getting out on the road (see Wisconsin) to rally her supporters for turnout. Cost herself in the end. Comey WAS a minor footnote in that outcome. Very odd and sad to see a former FBI Director seek out so much attention. The common historical personality trait for successful occupants of that role has been modest competence.
Not so, Mark, her numbers dropped after Comey re-opened the case. Check 538’s analysis. And yes, she made mistakes, but still won the popular vote by nearly 3 million. A few more in a few states and we’d be living a different history.
Exactly my point Mel. “A few more states” is what a good campaigner is manically focused on winning vs. sitting pat and assuming a W. DJT actually won the popular vote outside of Calf (a given Dem win state these days) so yes, HRC blew it vs. Comey’s impact. He’s an excuse not a reason for why she lost.
A Westporter in the news, interviewed by 2 Westporters on a national podcast.