Comey accused: Former FBI Director James Comey has been formally charged with threatening the life of US President Donald Trump, a case that arises from an Instagram post he shared last year. The post featured an image of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” which the Justice Department interprets as a call for violence against Trump. The phrase “eighty-six” is slang for “eject” or “remove,” and Trump along with his administration officials have described the post as a threat against the 47th president.
Comey accused over Instagram seashell photo
The Instagram image was posted in 2025 and quickly deleted by Comey after the US Secret Service interviewed him about the post. Comey stated that he did not understand the meaning behind the numbers and assumed the seashells were a political message. He emphasized his opposition to violence and said he removed the post once he realized some associated the numbers with violent intent.
Despite Comey’s explanation, the Justice Department has charged him with making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The charges were filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the location where the seashells were reportedly found.
Reactions and legal perspectives
FBI Director Kash Patel criticized Comey for posting what he described as a threat on the president’s life, highlighting Comey’s awareness of the consequences given his former role. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called threatening the president a serious violation of the law and noted the grand jury’s indictment.
Comey responded to the charges by asserting his innocence and expressing confidence in the independent federal judiciary. He also noted that this is the administration’s second attempt to prosecute him, following a previous indictment related to alleged false testimony and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, which was dismissed due to procedural issues with the prosecutor’s appointment.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about the strength of the indictment. Michael Gerhardt, a constitutional law professor, described the case as “very thin” and suggested the post could be protected free speech under the First Amendment. Former federal prosecutor Jimmy Gurulé called the indictment an embarrassment and a transparent attempt to intimidate a political opponent, doubting the government’s ability to prove intent to threaten or harm the president beyond a reasonable doubt.
Background on previous charges and related cases
This is not the first time Comey has faced legal action from the current administration. In a prior case, he was indicted on charges related to his congressional testimony but the case was dismissed due to the prosecutor’s invalid appointment. The judge allowed the possibility for the government to refile charges.
Separately, a judge recently allowed a case brought by Maurene Comey, James Comey’s daughter and a former federal prosecutor, to proceed. She is challenging her firing by the Trump administration.