When James Comey prosecuted Martha Stewart in 2003 using what legal scholars called an "audacious legal theory," and when he made unprecedented public interventions in the Hillary Clinton email investigation in 2016, he claimed to be upholding institutional integrity. But a comprehensive examination of court records, Inspector General reports, and expert analysis reveals a troubling pattern: Comey's most aggressive and procedurally irregular actions have disproportionately targeted high-profile women, generating enormous reputational damage regardless of legal outcomes. From the novel securities fraud charge against Stewart—later dismissed by a judge—to the "extraordinary and insubordinate" press conferences and letters about Clinton that violated Justice Department norms, Comey's decisions in these cases drew sustained criticism from legal experts across the political spectrum. The Department of Justice Inspector General found that Comey's handling of the Clinton investigation included "inappropriate commentary about uncharged conduct" and represented departures from "well-established department policies" for which he offered no "persuasive basis." This investigation examines whether Comey's most controversial prosecutorial decisions reveal a pattern of disproportionate intensity, extraordinary publicity, and institutional norm violations that consistently affected prominent women—raising fundamental questions about equality before the law and the appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion.
Category: Women
The Forgotten Legacy of Joice Heth: How a Slave Fueled Barnum’s Fame
P.T. Barnum’s rise to fame is an emblematic reflection of the deeply entrenched inequalities of 19th-century America. Barnum, known as the “Great American Showman,” capitalized on the public’s thirst for spectacle and curiosity, transforming the entertainment landscape with his audacious displays of oddities and curiosities. He is often remembered for founding what became “The Greatest...
The 1943 Lanham Act Childcare Program Exposed Congressional Neglect—Its Demise Still Haunts America
Amidst the tumult of World War II, the United States briefly achieved something that remains elusive today: truly universal childcare. Under the Lanham Act of 1943, the federal government funded “war nurseries,” enrolling an estimated 550,000 children so their mothers could bolster the wartime workforce. Though wildly successful, these centers vanished soon after the conflict ended—victims of shifting politics and deep-rooted biases. This forgotten chapter of American history reveals how effectively the nation can rally behind working parents, and how readily it can abandon them once the crisis subsides.
Mary Vincent’s Journey from Trauma to Triumph
In September 1978, 15-year-old Mary Vincent survived a brutal assault that shocked America. Despite losing both arms in the attack, Vincent's courageous journey of recovery, advocacy, and healing embodies extraordinary resilience and a quiet, enduring strength that transformed personal tragedy into a powerful call for justice.
The Unfinished Revolution: A Chronicle of Women’s Struggles and Triumphs
The journey for women’s rights has been fraught with significant challenges but has also been marked by remarkable milestones. Early suffragettes faced immense opposition as they fought for the most fundamental right to vote. The 19th Amendment in 1920, which granted American women the right to vote, was a groundbreaking achievement that marked the beginning...