Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted Over Social Media Post Interpreted as Threat
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again in connection with a social media post that officials interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump.
The indictment relates to a photo posted on Comey's Instagram page in May 2025, which showed seashells arranged to display the numbers "86 47." In American slang, "86" can mean to eject or kill someone, and "47" is a reference to Trump as the 47th president.
Comey deleted the post shortly after it was made, stating that he assumed it was a political message and opposed violence of any kind.
He said he did not realize some people associated those numbers with violence.
The indictment charges Comey with threatening the life of the president and making a threat in interstate commerce.
Officials stated that a reasonable person would interpret the post as an intent to harm President Trump.
This is the second indictment against Comey by the Justice Department under the Trump administration.
The previous case, filed in September 2025, charged him with making false statements and obstructing Congress but was dismissed by a federal judge due to the unlawful appointment of the prosecutor.
The renewed charges come amid increased pressure within the Justice Department to pursue criminal cases against perceived political opponents of President Trump.
This follows the recent firing of former Attorney General Pam Bondi and the appointment of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who has expedited cases against Trump's critics.
Comey was interviewed by the Secret Service in May 2025 after Trump administration officials asserted that the social media post was advocating the assassination of the president.
Comey was appointed FBI director by President Barack Obama in 2013 and was fired by Trump in 2017 during an investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
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