Meet James Comey, who was inspired to become a prosecutor after he was held at gunpoint in high school, rose to FBI director, and is now one of Trump's favorite punching bags

Associated Press/Alex Brandon

Former FBI Director James Comey smiles during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, June 8, 2017, in Washington.

• Nearly a year and a half after President Donald Trump fired him as FBI director, James Comey has re-emerged on the political stage.
• Comey's testimony to House investigators and vocal criticism of Trump have made him a consistently high-profile player in the drama surrounding the president's legal troubles.
• His appearances in the political spotlight and on Trump's Twitter feed are just a small part of his decades-long career.

Former FBI Director James Comey has made regular appearances in the political spotlight since the 2016 election.  From his high-profile firing to his testimony in Congress, Comey has managed to maintain his political relevance.

Comey's tangles with Trump are the latest in a decades-long legal career alongside major players like the special counsel Robert Mueller. Originally inspired by a hostage situation, he ended up leading cases against New York's financial elite, chef Martha Stewart, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Here's how Comey ended up where he is today.