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James Comey Requests Dismissal of Threat Case Over 2025 Seashell Post
Former FBI Director James Comey filed a federal motion to dismiss an indictment that accuses him of threatening President Donald Trump with a 2025 Instagram photo showing seashells arranged to read “86 47”. Comey’s lawyers argue the image is a well‑known political slogan, not a “true threat,” and that prosecuting it would violate First Amendment protections. The two‑count indictment charges him with making a threat to take the president’s life and with transmitting that threat in interstate commerce. A prior case against Comey for alleged lies to Congress was dismissed in November. The new case, filed in North Carolina, schedules an arraignment for September 30 and a trial in October.
The defense contends that “86” simply means “get rid of” and “47” refers to Trump as the 47th president, and that a reasonable observer would not interpret the post as a violent threat. The Justice Department’s pursuit of the case has been described as part of a broader retribution campaign against Trump critics.
Entities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. keyt.com · wbt.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] In the slogan, “86” means “get rid of” and “47” refers to President Trump as the 47th president. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Justice Department’s prosecution is described as part of a retribution campaign against Trump critics. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com · www.scmp.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A prior case accusing Comey of lying to Congress was dismissed in November. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com · www.scmp.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Comey’s arraignment is scheduled for September 30 and the trial is set for October. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Comey’s lawyers argue the seashells post is protected political speech under the First Amendment and not a “true threat”. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] James Comey filed a motion to dismiss a federal indictment alleging he threatened President Donald Trump with a 2025 Instagram post showing seashells spelling “86 47”. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The indictment charges Comey with making a threat to take the president’s life and with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. ca.news.yahoo.com · keyt.com