The United States Department of Justice on Tuesday filed criminal charges against former FBI director James Comey for a second time, accusing him of threatening US President Donald Trump through a controversial social media post.
Prosecutors in the federal court for the Eastern District of North Carolina alleged that Comey shared an image of seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47,” which they interpreted as a threat against the president. Authorities charged him with threatening the life of a public official and transmitting a threat across state lines.
The case stems from an Instagram post published in May 2025 while Comey was vacationing in North Carolina. In American slang, “86” can mean to remove someone, while “47” may refer to Trump as the 47th president. Consequently, Trump and his allies viewed the message as a call for violent action.
However, Comey denied any malicious intent and removed the post after backlash. He said he was unaware of any violent interpretation and reiterated his opposition to violence. “I’m still innocent. I’m still not afraid,” he stated in a video response.
Meanwhile, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche described the case as a standard prosecution involving threats against public officials. He emphasized that authorities consistently investigate and pursue such conduct regardless of the individual involved.
The indictment reflects a broader push by Trump’s administration to pursue legal action against political opponents. Previously, the department filed a separate case accusing Comey of misleading Congress, although a judge dismissed it over procedural issues, and an appeal is ongoing.
Legal experts expect Comey’s defense to challenge the charges on free speech grounds, citing protections under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which safeguards political expression but does not cover direct threats.
