Ex-FBI boss Comey indicted again, this time over seashell ‘threat’ to Trump
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on charges of making a threat against President Donald Trump based on a social media post showing seashells arranged as '86 47'. The indictment alleges the post constituted a threat to harm the president, despite Comey's claim that he did not intend it as such and deleted it promptly. The case was brought by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a Trump ally, as part of a broader political context.
- ▪The indictment charges Comey with knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of or inflict bodily harm upon President Trump.
- ▪Comey shared an Instagram photo of seashells arranged to read '86 47' and later deleted it, stating he did not realize the numbers were associated with violence.
- ▪The Secret Service interviewed Comey after Trump administration officials interpreted the post as advocating assassination.
- ▪Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a Trump loyalist, secured the indictment nearly a year after the post was made.
- ▪Comey maintains his innocence and says he opposes all forms of violence.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T22:29:36Z","datePublished":"2026-04-28T19:40:15Z","description":"The indictment charges Comey with “knowingly and wilfully” making a threat to “take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” Trump over a social media post he shared showing shells on a beach arranged to read “86 47”.","headline":"Ex-FBI chief charged with threatening the life of the president over Trump seashell post","keywords":"Trump's White House, James Comey, Just in, Donald Trump, FBI, CIA, Crime, USA, Instagram, Screens Ooh! SMH, Screens Ooh! The Age, Screens Ooh! BT, Screens Ooh! WAT","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alanna Durkin Richer"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.