Analyzing Indictment of James Comey for "86 47" Post

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted for a now-deleted Instagram post showing seashells arranged as '86 47,' which prosecutors allege constitutes a threat against President Trump, the 47th president. The indictment charges Comey with violating federal laws prohibiting threats against the president and interstate threats. Legal analyst Eugene Volokh argues the prosecution is unjustified, asserting the phrase '86' is a common idiom meaning removal or rejection, not a violent threat. He contends the post falls under protected political speech under the First Amendment, citing Supreme Court precedents that distinguish hyperbole and political rhetoric from true threats.