Former FBI director James Comey to speak at 51st annual celebrity forum in Cupertino

CUPERTINO, Calif. (BCN) - Former FBI Director James Comey will speak to a sold-out audience at Cupertino's De Anza College Thursday night for its 51st annual Celebrity Forum. 

The series has brought former presidents, journalists, humanitarians and dignitaries to the college since 1968, and Comey is scheduled to give remarks both Thursday and Friday.

Comey was appointed as FBI director in 2013, and was fired by President Donald Trump in 2017 amid his ongoing investigation into Trump's alleged ties with Russia.

He drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for his role in investigating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails during her 2016 presidential run. In April 2018, he published a book about his career, titled "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership."

Comey is the second-to-last speaker in the Celebrity Forum's 2018-19 season, with previous appearances by Rick Steves, John Cleese, Ian Bremmer and Diane Keaton. National Geographic Fellow Dan Buettner will wrap up the series in April.

Comey will be introduced by moderator Dick Henning, who founded the series, and will share remarks and answer audience questions from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event will follow the same schedule Thursday and Friday, both taking place at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts at De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Road, Cupertino.