The US Justice Department has filed new criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey over an Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read '86 47', which prosecutors allege was a threat to President Donald Trump. The indictment, filed in federal court in North Carolina, charges Comey with two felonies: making a threat against the president and transmitting it across state lines via social media. Each count carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years.
The post, made while Comey was on vacation last year, sparked controversy because the number 86 is sometimes used as slang for eliminating something, and Trump is the 47th president. Comey later deleted the post and apologised, stating he was unaware of the numbers' violent connotations. 'It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down,' he wrote on Instagram.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said at a press conference that threatening the president would not be tolerated, but declined to comment on how prosecutors would prove Comey's intent. Comey's attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, denied the charges, saying they would contest them in court. Comey himself released a video on his Substack, declaring, 'I am still innocent... Let's go.'
The indictment is the latest in a series of legal actions against Trump's political rivals under the current administration. Comey had previously been indicted for lying to Congress, but that case was dismissed due to the improper appointment of the prosecutor. The new charges come amid heightened security concerns after a man was stopped with weapons at the White House correspondents' dinner.
