Donald Trump shakes hands with FBI Director James Comey during a reception for inaugural law enforcement officers and first responders in the Blue Room of the White House on Jan. 22. | AP Photo Trump gives FBI Director Comey a pat on the back

President Donald Trump on Sunday warmly greeted the man who some Democrats say handed him the presidency.

At a White House reception for law enforcement, Trump spotted FBI Director James Comey and, stretching out his arms, called him over. Comey strolled across the room to greet Trump, who shook his hand and put an arm around him, slapping him on the back.


Trump had once derided Comey's handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails only to later extol the FBI director when he publicly announced a new development in the investigation days before the election.

Democrats, including Clinton, say Comey’s announcement of new developments in the investigation — which yielded no new information and did not change the FBI’s decision not to recommend a prosecution — cost her enough votes in key states to tip the election to Trump.

More recently, Comey caught the ire of Democratic senators for refusing to say at a congressional hearing whether the FBI was probing links between Trump's campaign and the Russian government.

“He’s become more famous than me,” Trump remarked of Comey. Comey also shook hands with Vice President Mike Pence.

The Justice Department inspector general recently opened an investigation into Comey’s handing of the email case.