Gambiaj.com – (WASHINGTON, United States) – Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted in connection with a social media post featuring seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” in a case that U.S. authorities say may constitute a threat against President Donald Trump.
The indictment, confirmed Tuesday by a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to Associated Press, marks the second criminal case brought by the Justice Department against Comey. Specific charges have not yet been publicly disclosed.
The case stems from a photograph Comey posted online after encountering the shell arrangement during a walk on a beach. He later said he interpreted the numbers as a political message rather than a call to violence.
However, officials within the Trump administration argued that “86 47” could be read as a coded threat, with “86” sometimes used in slang to mean “eliminate” and “47” referencing Trump as the 47th president.
Comey was interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service in May following backlash over the post. He subsequently deleted it, stating, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” and reaffirmed his opposition to violence.
In a May interview with Fox News, Trump dismissed Comey’s explanation, insisting the meaning was unmistakable. “A child knows what that meant,” Trump said. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination.”
The new indictment adds to ongoing tensions between Comey and Trump, whose relationship deteriorated sharply during Trump’s first year in office. Comey, appointed FBI director by former President Barack Obama, was dismissed by Trump in May 2017 amid an investigation into potential links between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.
That probe was later led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who concluded that while Russia interfered in the election and the Trump campaign welcomed the assistance, there was insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy.
The latest case is likely to intensify scrutiny over the Justice Department’s actions, particularly as critics argue that Trump allies are being selectively targeted. Comey himself had previously faced charges related to alleged false statements and obstruction of Congress over testimony he gave in 2020, but that case was dismissed after a judge found fault with the prosecution.
The Justice Department is also reportedly pursuing an investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, another central figure in the Russia inquiry, an issue that has remained a longstanding grievance for Trump and his supporters.
Comey’s legal team has not yet issued a public response to the latest indictment.
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