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The Unmaking of the President 2016: How FBI Director James Comey Cost Hillary Clinton the Presidency
A longtime Washington insider argues that former FBI Director James Comey’s letter to Congress, sent just before the presidential election in 2016 was a key determining factor in Trump’s “Compelling criticism…lapsed Trump supporters might well open their minds to this attorney’s scholarly, entirely convincing proof of the damage done” ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
During the week of October 24, 2016, Hillary Clinton was decisively ahead of Donald Trump in many polls and, more importantly, in the battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Then FBI Director James Comey sent his infamous letter to Congress on October 28, saying the bureau was investigating additional emails that may have been relevant to the Hillary Clinton email case. In The Unmaking of the President 2016 , attorney Lanny J. Davis shows how Comey’s misguided announcement—just eleven days before the election—swung a significant number of voters away from Clinton, winning Trump an Electoral College victory—and the presidency.
Davis traces Clinton’s email controversy and Comey’s July 2016 appearance before Congress, in which he said the Clinton email matter was effectively closed. From that moment until Comey’s late October letter to Congress, Davis says, Clinton was destined to be elected president by substantial popular and electoral vote margins. But the decision to send his October 28 letter, so near to the election, not only violated long-standing justice department policies but also contained no new facts of improper emails at all—just pure speculation. Davis shows state by state, using polling data before October 28, and on election day, how voter support for Hillary Clinton eroded quickly. He proves that had the election been held on October 27, Hillary Clinton would have won the presidency by a substantial margin.
Despite so many other issues in the closing days of the campaign—Trump’s behavior, the Russian hacking, reports of Clinton momentum in marginal states such as Georgia, Arizona, even Texas—after the October 28 Comey letter, everything changed. References to “Clinton emails” and “new criminal investigation” dominated media coverage virtually round-the-clock through election day November 8. Now Davis proves with raw, indisputable data how Comey’s October surprise cost Hillary Clinton the presidency and changed American history in the blink of an eye.
During the week of October 24, 2016, Hillary Clinton was decisively ahead of Donald Trump in many polls and, more importantly, in the battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Then FBI Director James Comey sent his infamous letter to Congress on October 28, saying the bureau was investigating additional emails that may have been relevant to the Hillary Clinton email case. In The Unmaking of the President 2016 , attorney Lanny J. Davis shows how Comey’s misguided announcement—just eleven days before the election—swung a significant number of voters away from Clinton, winning Trump an Electoral College victory—and the presidency.
Davis traces Clinton’s email controversy and Comey’s July 2016 appearance before Congress, in which he said the Clinton email matter was effectively closed. From that moment until Comey’s late October letter to Congress, Davis says, Clinton was destined to be elected president by substantial popular and electoral vote margins. But the decision to send his October 28 letter, so near to the election, not only violated long-standing justice department policies but also contained no new facts of improper emails at all—just pure speculation. Davis shows state by state, using polling data before October 28, and on election day, how voter support for Hillary Clinton eroded quickly. He proves that had the election been held on October 27, Hillary Clinton would have won the presidency by a substantial margin.
Despite so many other issues in the closing days of the campaign—Trump’s behavior, the Russian hacking, reports of Clinton momentum in marginal states such as Georgia, Arizona, even Texas—after the October 28 Comey letter, everything changed. References to “Clinton emails” and “new criminal investigation” dominated media coverage virtually round-the-clock through election day November 8. Now Davis proves with raw, indisputable data how Comey’s October surprise cost Hillary Clinton the presidency and changed American history in the blink of an eye.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 7, 2018
There was nothing groundbreaking about this book. There are so many political books out there centered on Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump -- or both -- that either tell-all books or in-depth analysis based on investigative reporting. This one's rehashing what we already know, and that we've seen multiple times on MSNBC or NPR. Just pick up Fire and Fury, at least that one will entertain you. I give it one cup of watery decaf. It's a hard pass for me.
April 30, 2018
While I think this was a poorly written book, the point that Hillary's email problems were extremely overblown was on target. The Clintons have been subject to investigations by Republican congresses for years and years on little merit. Meanwhile, a horrible, vile person has become President, who is THE most corrupt person we have ever had in that position.
February 18, 2018
This book was hard for me to read, because I found the election difficult to stomach. But it is excellently written, the premise is backed up with many verifiable statistics and amply supported. The day the Comey letter was released, I thought the election was lost, but most of the people I talked to thought it would blow over. What is surprising is what motivated Comey to release his letter. Just the fear of the right claiming the FBI was partisan. This actually caused the FBI to behave in a very partisan manner benefiting the right. This election was so very compromised, and the heartbreaking truth is we will be struggling as a country to recover from the effects to generations to come, as Trump slashes protections for the environment, the poor, immigrants, and anyone who doesn't have the funds to buy his protection.
February 6, 2018
An essential primer on Whitewater, Email server issues and more. The epilogue has much about the Impeacement process, and the 25th Amendment. By itself this chapter is worth the read. Many could be served if more people understood the legal underpinnings and the seriousness of the wishes of the framers of the Constitution.
June 3, 2018
As a preface to reading Comey’s own book, in which he reportedly apologizes for breaching protocol by circulating cleverly-worded fake news about a candidate during the final days before a national election, I wanted to read this short book. Written by lawyer and Washington DC insider Lanny J. Davis, The Unmaking of the President 2016 is concise and statistical. It cites Justice Department protocol, polling statistics, and moves through the history of the 2016 election without wasting words. Even the Epilogue, which considers the question of impeachment, is factual and succinct, moving from one concept to the next without over-elaboration. Though factual, the book reads like a well-paced novel.
The major thesis is that Comey’s letter to Congress about possibly reopening an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, just days before the 2016 election, cost Clinton the election. The fact that the investigation was not pursued due to lack of evidence makes Comey’s letter even more inappropriate. Comey breached protocol both in the timing of such a letter, and the fact that he acted without consulting his Justice Department supervisors. The election process, as is it was set up by our Founding Fathers, specifically prohibited such interference.
Recommended reading for all Americans interested in fair and representational national elections, and how easily these can be compromised. Europeans and other nationals who have been lampooning American politics for some time will find plenty of factual fodder here. Let’s learn from our mistakes, America!
The major thesis is that Comey’s letter to Congress about possibly reopening an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, just days before the 2016 election, cost Clinton the election. The fact that the investigation was not pursued due to lack of evidence makes Comey’s letter even more inappropriate. Comey breached protocol both in the timing of such a letter, and the fact that he acted without consulting his Justice Department supervisors. The election process, as is it was set up by our Founding Fathers, specifically prohibited such interference.
Recommended reading for all Americans interested in fair and representational national elections, and how easily these can be compromised. Europeans and other nationals who have been lampooning American politics for some time will find plenty of factual fodder here. Let’s learn from our mistakes, America!
April 6, 2018
Davis, an attorney with decades of experience, lays out his case calmly and sequentially: James Comey and FBI agents in the New York Office acted to deliberately damage the public image of Hillary Clinton to weaken her chances of being elected President. Using factual evidence, Davis presents incontrovertible arguments both for the motivations of the FBI and the specific damage their actions did to Clinton at critical points in the campaign. Davis also calls the Obama Justice Department to account for their weakness and lack of action in allowing Comey to run amok. A very enlightening but dispiriting read.
February 18, 2018
If you’re prepared to revisit the Comey letter and get into the weeds, you must read this book. It all happened so fast we missed much of the detail, and more has been discovered after the fact. A national disaster- read it and weep
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March 4, 2018Russia and Trump may have colluded but that's not what cost Hilary the election. If one is disgusted by the unbridled narcissism of Trump this book suggests that it pales to Comey's and his decision to send the infamous letter to the House stating that Clinton's emails were again under investigation. I love books that take a clear stand and then provide actual and clear evidence to prove it. This book not only shows how Comey CLEARLY cost Clinton the election but adds two other broad brush indictments as well.
First the press, led by the shoddy reporting of the New York Times, had for years attacked the Clinton's. First came Whitewater, then travel gate, then..... Last of course was the emails. The Times reporting on these from start to still not finished is shameful. There was never any email problem period. The FBI knew it, Congress knew it, the NY Times knew it but still it dragged on and on.
Secondly, Davis focussed on the voter suppression in three key states where Hilary lost by only 70,000 votes combined. These states were Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. A UW Madison study shows that at least 20,000 people there did not vote because of Wisconsin's voting laws. Here is where Russia may have had its greatest effect. By targeting its 'bots' and other nefarious tactics at those three states may have added to tip the scales.
But the most fun was the end of the book where the author outlines many areas that could be used to impeach Trump. Starting with the theme that a President's actions must be shown to be harmful to the country (Note that Bill Clinton's affair did not sink to that level) the author outlines at least four areas where Trump could be shown to have acted in ways that were harmful and dangerous to the United States.
But even with all this taken in it was Comey who killed the election for Hilary. There are no doubts about it. So if anyone complains to you that the election results were totally to be lain at Hilary's feet cry foul and just say Comey. End of discussion.
First the press, led by the shoddy reporting of the New York Times, had for years attacked the Clinton's. First came Whitewater, then travel gate, then..... Last of course was the emails. The Times reporting on these from start to still not finished is shameful. There was never any email problem period. The FBI knew it, Congress knew it, the NY Times knew it but still it dragged on and on.
Secondly, Davis focussed on the voter suppression in three key states where Hilary lost by only 70,000 votes combined. These states were Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. A UW Madison study shows that at least 20,000 people there did not vote because of Wisconsin's voting laws. Here is where Russia may have had its greatest effect. By targeting its 'bots' and other nefarious tactics at those three states may have added to tip the scales.
But the most fun was the end of the book where the author outlines many areas that could be used to impeach Trump. Starting with the theme that a President's actions must be shown to be harmful to the country (Note that Bill Clinton's affair did not sink to that level) the author outlines at least four areas where Trump could be shown to have acted in ways that were harmful and dangerous to the United States.
But even with all this taken in it was Comey who killed the election for Hilary. There are no doubts about it. So if anyone complains to you that the election results were totally to be lain at Hilary's feet cry foul and just say Comey. End of discussion.
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December 14, 2025The Unmaking of the President 2016 is a compelling, meticulously researched examination of one of the most pivotal moments in recent U.S. political history. Lanny J. Davis presents an incisive analysis of how FBI Director James Comey’s late-October 2016 letter to Congress shifted the trajectory of the presidential election. Davis combines deep insider knowledge with rigorous data analysis, creating a narrative that is both authoritative and accessible.
Davis’s ability to translate complex political maneuvers and polling data into a clear story for readers is remarkable. The book not only recounts events but provides compelling evidence to support its claims, showing the profound impact of timing, media coverage, and public perception in shaping electoral outcomes. It is a must read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of American politics and the subtle forces that can alter history.
Davis’s ability to translate complex political maneuvers and polling data into a clear story for readers is remarkable. The book not only recounts events but provides compelling evidence to support its claims, showing the profound impact of timing, media coverage, and public perception in shaping electoral outcomes. It is a must read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of American politics and the subtle forces that can alter history.
March 12, 2018
Davis makes his cases as a practicing lawyer, as strongly as possible, then explains any qualifications that might need to be made without conceding his stated beliefs. The overall case, that Comey's "re-opening" of the Clinton e-mail investigation scant days before the election was both wrong and determined the election's outcome, is made well enough for me to provisionally accept it. (The unstated and even more important thesis, in some ways, is that like the Trump campaign itself, nobody in the Justice Department or elsewhere in the executive branch, including Comey himself, expected the Trump victory, that is expected the effects of the announcement, truly almost contentless even before it was admitted to be such only days later, to affect the anticipated victory by Hillary Clinton. But it did.)
November 21, 2022
Interesting to read this book after Trump is out of office and lost the 2022 election. The first part of the book is written like a thesis or dissertation and the author goes to great detail in showing how FBI Director Jim Comey's Oct. 28, 2016 letter to Congress cost Hillary Clinton the election. It was a real slug to get through all this detail. However the Epilogue "It's time for an Impeachment and 25th Amendment Investigation" is not only thought provoking but explains a lot about the impeachment process. The author claims to neither favor or disfavor the impeachment of Trump. Skip the dissertation and read the epilogue.
August 13, 2025
Interesting read. What struck me was how karma can and will come back and get you in ways you never expected. James Comey cost Hillary Clinton the 2016 election and set the country on the road to horror. Yes, we had some respite from late January 2021 until January 2025, but the 4 years before and 4 years we're looking at now we can thank James Comey for. His actions cost us a Hillary Clinton presidency.
Fast forward to July 2025 when Comey's daughter gets fired by trump over the Epstein files and trump's role in that horror. Had James Comey not screwed up Clinton's election, chances are his daughter would not have lost her job. Karma
Fast forward to July 2025 when Comey's daughter gets fired by trump over the Epstein files and trump's role in that horror. Had James Comey not screwed up Clinton's election, chances are his daughter would not have lost her job. Karma
January 19, 2018
Hillary Clinton lost because she was overconfident and didn't think she had to actually come up with a platform or give people a reason to vote for her. Her only platform was basically "It's my turn" and "I'm not Donald Trump".
Hillary Clinton is not a likable person and she won't accept responsibility for the fact that she lost the election for herself. Not because she is a woman. Not because of the Russians. Not because of Comey. Because of her own negligence and lazy campaign.
Hillary Clinton is not a likable person and she won't accept responsibility for the fact that she lost the election for herself. Not because she is a woman. Not because of the Russians. Not because of Comey. Because of her own negligence and lazy campaign.
March 3, 2018
Very informative and well documented. Davis proves beyond a doubt that James Comey handed the 2016 election to Trump. The. Book also provides road maps on how to justify impeachment and implement proceedings. Written in legalize this book isn’t exactly a page turner but it is short enough for the lay reader to read a well laid out document on the why’s and how’s of the outcome of the 2016 election and beyond.
April 26, 2018
Clear concise book by a lawyer who uses data and documented evidence to argue conclusively that the Comey announcement on State Department emails caused Hillary to lose the election. Davis shows how the FBI itself was pre-Trump and anti-Hillary and this was probably was an incentive for Comey’s actions. David uses poll data and studies on media to show how the announcement affected public opinion and voting habits. It is loaded with dry data but also very interesting.
May 28, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. It has a vibe to it that feels similar to the verbalization of the “what if” and “if only” that comes from supporters of Bernie Sanders. We can’t go back in time. Can’t unring the bell. People who pay attention to facts already know 90% of what is presented in this book. The Epilogue and Conclusion were more interesting than the book. Just so I’m clear, I am a supporter of Secretary Clinton and not a fan of 45.
February 13, 2019
This book was a repetitive, boring waste of time. Could't even finish it because I barely learned anything even after getting half way through the book. Summary of Content: Hillary Clinton didn't commit a crime because her email usage wasn't a crime at the time she did it. This book ignore a lot of things about election politics. Don't waste your time.
March 6, 2019
I enjoyed learning more about what occurred around these events and some of the laws and policies that were used or ignored. Unfortunately - rather than simply presenting the facts and the conclusions he comes to - the author occasionally uses a derogatory tone and makes comments that I felt were unnecessarily biased. This was an informative book overall.
April 12, 2018
Given the enormous role that emails played in the 2016 election, this was an important book that offered details and data about what was happening and how it affected the outcome. I thought it was very well-written and comprehensive.
April 25, 2018
Ok, this book was obviously biased toward the Clinton campaign. I loved reading the graphs that should the supposedly impact of the Comey decision. It was good, but I don't buy that Comey cost Hillary the election.
September 13, 2018
Another book that all intelligent Americans should read and see how things unfolded in 2016 to better understand how we ended up with a Scum Bag in the White House and the country tumbling down the drain!!!!
March 5, 2018
Nothing new. Writing is OK, nothing great. Thankfully this book is short. Writer seems sincere, but not insightful.
March 11, 2018
Although I believe the premise of the book, and the facts were well documented, I thought it was a very boring and tedious book. I skimmed through most of it.
April 25, 2018
No surprises. Nothing that I had not already heard.
May 8, 2018
Wish I could argue with some of the points in the book, sadly that is not the case.
January 25, 2021
Eye opening look at the final days of the 2016 presidential election.
December 19, 2019
A book written by a lawyer that felt like it was written by a lawyer. It probably won't change any minds, but he said he wrote for posterity to judge these arguably unprecedented events.
March 1, 2018
4.5 stars
How you feel about that opening sentence will indicate how you might feel about this book.
This isn't the sort of book that I would normally read. I'm all about fiction and sciencey-stuff, not current events, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This is basically a long, detailed, well-informed essay, and it reads like an insider's diary entries.
Davis can be entertaining, and he's frank in his disgust of the bias he saw in the media and elsewhere.
There is a shitload of information in here, and I confess my attention wandered a time or two and I missed details here and there. Davis really digs into the details. This is the perfect book to pull out whenever anyone asks, "What was the deal with 'her emails' anyway??"
Be sure to read the epilogue, too! It's excellent.
Davis breaks down five possible grounds for impeachment (although he also makes it clear that he is NOT calling for impeachment, which was an interesting distinction), all part of an "overarching abuse of presidential power:"
The audiobook is well-done, Arthur Morey does a great job reading this, expressing outrage, amazement, irritation, befuddlement, etc, as the events unfold. It's March 2018, I'm still sore about Hillary Clinton losing the election in November 2016, and this book helped soothe that wound.
Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 Presidential election, and Donald Trump won it, for the single, decisive reason that FBI Director James Comey wrote his infamous letter to Congress on October 28, 2016, announcing the discovery of a laptop computer belonging to Anthony Weiner, that contained thousands of copies of Clinton's emails.
How you feel about that opening sentence will indicate how you might feel about this book.
This isn't the sort of book that I would normally read. I'm all about fiction and sciencey-stuff, not current events, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. This is basically a long, detailed, well-informed essay, and it reads like an insider's diary entries.
Davis can be entertaining, and he's frank in his disgust of the bias he saw in the media and elsewhere.
The no-fact, all-speculation, negative coverage of her supposed wrong-doing regarding her use of a private email system continued for weeks.
There is a shitload of information in here, and I confess my attention wandered a time or two and I missed details here and there. Davis really digs into the details. This is the perfect book to pull out whenever anyone asks, "What was the deal with 'her emails' anyway??"
Be sure to read the epilogue, too! It's excellent.
Davis breaks down five possible grounds for impeachment (although he also makes it clear that he is NOT calling for impeachment, which was an interesting distinction), all part of an "overarching abuse of presidential power:"
1. Obstruction of justice and cover-up, thereby threatening the rule of law and our system of justice.
2. Abuse of the public trust by knowingly and willfully perpetuating lies that harm the national interest and faith in government, and undermine the nation's security from foreign hostile powers.
3. Attacks on the First Amendment protections of a free press.
4. Words and actions suggesting betrayal of trust to a hostile foreign power.
5. Conflicts of interest, constituting self-enrichment involving possible violations of the Constitution's two separate provisions prohibiting domestic and foreign emoluments.
The audiobook is well-done, Arthur Morey does a great job reading this, expressing outrage, amazement, irritation, befuddlement, etc, as the events unfold. It's March 2018, I'm still sore about Hillary Clinton losing the election in November 2016, and this book helped soothe that wound.
February 18, 2018
I received this as a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I will post that review close to the publication date.
My complete review is here: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
My complete review is here: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
September 16, 2018
One of the stories here is that the NYT was largely responsible for Clinton losing the election due to its misreporting of key stories, including its misreporting of the legality of her use of the private email server, which was, he says, legal at the time, a fact not reported in the NYT original article. Later they also misreported on the decision to open a criminal investigation, which was actually an FBI decision and not a decision of the inspectors general. Finally, he argues that Comey's release of the infamous letter cost Clinton the election. There is no doubt that Davis is a partisan on Clinton's side, but still this is an interesting look at the ways in which the press and FBI may have cost Clinton the election. It is a quick read if you are already familiar with much of the events leading up to the election in 2016.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews