- Former FBI Director James Comey has been formally charged in North Carolina for allegedly threatening the life of President Donald Trump through a cryptic Instagram post.
- The indictment centers on a 2025 photo of seashells arranged as “86 47.” Prosecutors argue “86” is slang for “eject” or “eliminate,” targeting the 47th president.
- Comey maintains his innocence, stating he viewed the image as a political message and was unaware of any violent connotations. Legal experts have labeled the case “thin” and a potential First Amendment violation.
The Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly transmitting a threat against President Donald Trump.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the charges, announced Tuesday by FBI Director Kash Patel, stem from a social media post featuring seashells formed into the numbers “86 47,” which the administration characterizes as a “disgraceful” call to violence.
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The indictment, filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, marks the second attempt by the current administration to prosecute Comey.
Each charge, making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Comey, who was famously fired by Trump in 2017, responded to the charges with defiance, stating, “I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary.”
The case has drawn sharp criticism from legal scholars. Michael Gerhardt of the UNC School of Law described the evidence as “insubstantial,” suggesting that courts will likely protect the post under free speech laws.
Former federal prosecutor Jimmy Gurulé went further, calling the indictment “an embarrassment” and a transparent attempt to intimidate a political rival.
This legal battle follows a previously dismissed case against Comey involving allegations of obstructing a congressional proceeding, which was tossed out due to the “invalid” appointment of the prosecutor.
As the “seashell” case moves forward, it sets the stage for a major constitutional test regarding political speech and the limits of presidential protection laws.
