Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted for Threatening Donald Trump via Instagram Post
James Comey, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has been indicted on criminal charges related to a social media post.
The indictment was announced on April 29, 2026, by a grand jury in North Carolina.
Comey faces two felony charges: making a threat against the president and transmitting that threat across state lines via social media.
The charges stem from an Instagram post he made in May 2025 while on vacation.
The post featured seashells arranged to display the numbers "86 47." The number "86" is commonly used as slang for "getting rid of" or "killing," and "47" was interpreted as a reference to Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States.
The Justice Department alleges that a reasonable person would interpret the post as a serious expression of intent to harm the president.
Following the post, Comey deleted the image and issued an apology, stating he had not realized the violent connotation of the numbers.
He emphasized his opposition to violence of any kind.
In response to the indictment, Comey released a video asserting his innocence and reaffirming his belief in the independence of the federal judiciary.
He described the charges as part of a broader pattern of the Justice Department targeting political opponents.
This development is significant as it involves a former FBI director being criminally charged for a social media post, highlighting ongoing tensions between political figures and the Justice Department.
It also raises questions about the limits of free speech and the interpretation of symbolic content online.
