HE TOOK FLAK ON 2 SIDES

OUSTED FBI Director James Comey endured a dizzying 12 months, during which he was alternately pilloried by Democrats and Republicans alike.

First, he earned the ire of Democrats last year with his painstaking investigation of Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state.

Then in July — a day after Independence Day — Comey absorbed the wrath of Republicans, after he said he would not recommend charges against Clinton — although he noted that Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless” with how they handled classified information.

Then the outrage pendulum swung back to Democrats when, just 11 days before the election, Comey decided to reopen the case — and a political can of worms — after discovering new Clinton emails courtesy of a sexting scandal involving disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of top Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

The second investigation cleared Clinton again just two days before Election Day, but by then, supporters said, the damage had already been done.

Clinton said she believes Comey’s actions cost her the election.

He was back on the hot seat last week, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee investigating Russian tampering in the election, and was asked repeatedly about his actions during