The ousted FBI director responds to Barr’s “spying” comments as he pushes for the release of the Mueller report. : Former FBI director James Comey participates in a Washington Post Live event last year. (Kristoffer Tripplaar for The Washington Post) SAUSALITO, Calif. — Former FBI director Jim Comey pushed back on Bill Barr’s claim that the U.S. government spied on President Trump’s 2016 campaign as he pressed the attorney general to release special counsel Bob Mueller’s report. “I don’t understand what the heck he’s talking about,” Comey said here on Thursday.