Former FBI Director James Comey’s alleged Twitter account appeared to tweet from Iowa Friday, fueling some lighthearted speculation that Comey will run for the White House in 2020.
“Good to be back in Iowa,” user “Reinhold Niebuhr” tweeted Friday evening, showing what appeared to be a man in a cornfield at sunset.
Good to be back in Iowa. pic.twitter.com/TGJHOhQ9KF
— James Comey (@Comey) October 21, 2017
Immediately several Twitter users, noting Iowa’s significance in nation-wide elections, began quipping that “he’s running” for the presidency.
He’s running!!!!! https://t.co/GfSYl0NsWD
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) October 21, 2017
He’s running! https://t.co/MSdD44aDkF
— Stefan Becket (@becket) October 21, 2017
He’s running https://t.co/vi0dIRgetC
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) October 21, 2017
The account had been private after two reports in March, one by Gizmodo and another by the New Yorker, tied the former FBI director to it right after Comey revealed that he was secretly on Twitter and Instagram during a dinner event.
Suddenly this week the account appeared to be made public again and has tweeted once a day hinting at a possible road trip.
The first tweet on Wednesday claimed to be from New York. The second, on Thursday, allegedly originated from Gettysburg, Pa. That tweet pondered “leadership and values.”
Benjamin Wittes of Lawfare, who is a longtime friend of Comey’s, has avoided confirming whether the account is in fact Comey’s but has teased that it might be him and did say that he convinced the account holder to unlock it.
On Thursday, Wittes said that if the account user “is not, in fact, James Comey, this is the best gag ever for getting Twitter followers,” along with a smiley face emoji.
Comey was fired as FBI director by Trump in May.
The Reinhold Niebuhr account follows only 29 other accounts, including Wittes, the FBI, a number of journalists, and various media outlets.
