Ex-FBI chief’s memoir red-hot

SOARING: A HIGHER LOYALTY HAS INITIAL PRINT ORDER OF ONE MILLION COPIES

Comey’s book flies off the shelves as Trump claims make national headlines.

Fired FBI director James Comey’s memoir that details his private meetings with US President Donald Trump sold about 600 000 copies in all formats in its first week, its publisher said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of best-selling political books.

Comey’s A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership has so far outpaced Hillary Clinton’s campaign memoir What Happened and journalist Michael Wolff’s behind-the-scenes White House expose Fire and Fury in opening week sales, according to industry figures.

Publisher Flatiron Books said it has printed more than a million copies of Comey’s book, which has made national headlines.

Flatiron did not say whether the first week sales were global or limited to the US.

Comey has been on a media blitz, sitting for numerous TV and radio interviews, while also on a book tour that has seen him appear before sold-out audiences of more than a thousand.

The book has drawn Trump’s ire as Comey compared the president to a mob boss who stresses personal loyalty over the law and has little regard for morality or truth.

Trump dismissed Comey in May last year while the FBI was investigating allegations Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between Russians and Trump’s campaign. Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion.

A Higher Loyalty, which is billed as Comey’s thoughts on leadership, topped Amazon.com’s bestseller list for several weeks before its official release.

What Happened sold more than 300 000 copies, including hardcover, e-book, CD and digital audio, in its first week after publication in September 2017, according to publisher Simon & Schuster.

Wolff’s portrayal of a chaotic West Wing filled with strife and aides questioning the president’s fitness to lead debuted in January with about 28 000 in sales. Higher-than-expected demand led Henry Holt & Co to order up 2.1 million copies in its first week.

Wolff’s book has sold nearly 975 000 print copies and Clinton’s memoir has sold about 511 000 print copies. – Reuters