Ex-FBI Director James Comey Indicted Over Alleged Trump Threat Post
As stated by the DOJ, prosecutors argue that “a reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances” would interpret Comey’s May 2025 Instagram post—showing seashells arranged on a beach forming the numbers “86 47”—as “a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the president of the United States.”
The interpretation has been linked by critics to slang usage of “86” as meaning to eliminate or remove someone, combined with “47” being associated with Trump’s position as the 47th president, leading to accusations that the post implied a call for violence.
Comey has denied any intent to threaten the president, stating that he “didn’t realize some people associate those numbers with violence.” He later removed the post following public controversy.
“Threatening the life of the president of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “This country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials.”
The indictment comes shortly after what officials described as a failed attempt on Trump’s life at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC on Saturday. Trump has also survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 reelection campaign. Political figures from both major parties have increasingly accused one another of contributing to an atmosphere of incitement amid a rise in attacks on public officials and activists.
Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017 under President Barack Obama, has frequently been critical of Trump, at one point comparing him to a mob boss in his memoirs.
Separately, reports note that Comey was previously indicted last year on charges of lying to Congress, though those charges were later dismissed by a judge.
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