Twitter is Convinced That a Newly Unlocked Secret Account Belongs to James Comey
There is a growing consensus among Twitter users that the account “Reinhold Niebuhr” belongs to former FBI Director James Comey.
On Tuesday evening, the user uploaded this picture in the account’s second-ever tweet.
Beautiful fall day at West Point. Lone kayaker on the Hudson. pic.twitter.com/gcJ730VD7p
— Reinhold Niebuhr (@FormerBu) October 18, 2017
The recently unlocked account has long been suspected to be Comey’s. Earlier this year, Ashley Feinberg of Gizmodo suspected that Reinhold Niebuhr was actually Comey after intense investigating (or social media stalking). And Paul Elie of The New Yorker backed up Feinberg’s reporting shortly after.
The new Tweet from “Niebuhr” sparked a ton of intrigue on Twitter — namely from Benjamin Wittes, a longtime friend of Comey’s.
Look who’s tweeted again… https://t.co/7l7JkyHAx1
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) October 18, 2017
I’ve never confirmed the identity of the holder of this account and I’m not going to start now. I will say that won’t regret following it. https://t.co/5seGECnLbQ
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) October 18, 2017
And while I am of course not confirming that @FormerBu is James Comey, I have just convinced whoever holds the account to unlock it. https://t.co/Yik80hddi1
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) October 19, 2017
Even without confirmation from Wittes, many have already assumed it’s Comey.
Welcome back. We’ve missed you. And we need you.
— James Frey (@JamesFrey) October 19, 2017
Can you comment on the “Black Identity Extremist” designation? Was the Bureau considering this during your time?
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) October 18, 2017
(I know it’s his account because I followed it when it was first found)
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) October 18, 2017
Niebuhr’s only other tweet was made on March 30, including the link FBIJobs.gov.
https://t.co/L5ehuMFGat pic.twitter.com/x53gCG7Nvc
— Reinhold Niebuhr (@FormerBu) March 30, 2017
The account only follows 29 other users, including the FBI, CIA, Howard University (where he recently spoke), and The Onion.
