Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted Over Alleged Trump Threat
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted over a 2025 social media post featuring seashells arranged to form the numbers '86 47,' which prosecutors allege constituted a threat against President Donald Trump. Comey denies any intent to threaten and claims the post was misinterpreted, later deleting it and stating he opposes violence. His legal team plans to challenge the indictment as politically motivated, while the Justice Department asserts it is upholding laws against presidential threats.
- ▪James Comey was indicted on charges of making and transmitting a threat against the President over a social media post of seashells forming the numbers '86 47'.
- ▪The numbers '86' and '47' have been interpreted by some as a call to remove or harm President Trump, though Comey claims he was unaware of any violent connotation.
- ▪Comey voluntarily spoke with the Secret Service, deleted the post, and stated he opposes all forms of violence.
- ▪This is the second attempt by the Trump administration to prosecute Comey, following a previous indictment dismissed over the prosecutor's unlawful appointment.
- ▪Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the indictment, stating threats against the president will not be tolerated, regardless of the defendant's identity.
6 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 15 hours. Coverage spans 3 points on the political spectrum — 2 lean left, 2 centre, 1 right.
- ▪ Grand jury indicts Comey for alleged threat against Trump — NBC News — Top
- ▪ James Comey gets indicted (again) — Vox
- ▪ James Comey Indicted For ‘86 47’ ‘Threat’ Against Trump — The Federalist
- ▪ Ex-FBI boss Comey indicted again, this time over seashell ‘threat’ to Trump — The Sydney Morning Herald
- ▪ James Comey indicted over seashell photo that officials say threatened Trump — NBC News Politics
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| Original publisher | TIME — Top |
| Canonical URL | https://time.com/article/2026/04/29/james-comey-fbi-director-indictment-seashell-threat-trump/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:45:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-04-29T10:11:16.183Z |
| Last seen | 2026-04-29T10:11:16.183Z |
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| Cluster | Yi_iIjYlU2A- · 6 stories |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to law enforcement on Wednesday after the Justice Department indicted him over a 2025 social media post of seashells that allegedly threatened President Donald Trump.Comey was charged with “knowingly and wilfully” making a threat against the President and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, according to the indictment. A grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina, which is where Comey’s seashell photo was allegedly taken, approved the charges on Tuesday.At the minutes-long hearing in Alexandria, Va., on Wednesday, Comey’s attorneys said they intend to file motions for dismissal, arguing that the Justice Department is selectively and vindictively prosecuting their client.
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