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: Donald Trump · James Comey · U.S. Department of Justice
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The indictment was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. (3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, 2e7a2ddb-2c18-4fb6-bf93-aefcdf29c45d)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In the slogan, “86” means “get rid of” and “47” refers to President Trump as the 47th president. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, 40d84ebc-c129-4aa7-b750-9898f7ea6757)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Justice Department’s prosecution is described as part of a retribution campaign against Trump critics. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, b5e6bb2e-073d-4fc1-8ad7-fe7fef3a0a1f)
- [● 3 SOURCES] A prior case accusing Comey of lying to Congress was dismissed in November. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, b5e6bb2e-073d-4fc1-8ad7-fe7fef3a0a1f)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Comey’s arraignment is scheduled for September 30 and the trial is set for October. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Comey’s lawyers argue the seashells post is protected political speech under the First Amendment and not a “true threat”. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, 40d84ebc-c129-4aa7-b750-9898f7ea6757)
- [● 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”. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, 40d84ebc-c129-4aa7-b750-9898f7ea6757)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The indictment charges Comey with making a threat to take the president’s life and with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. (9f2eebe0-d359-466b-8ff6-c0c601c4a3de, 3df7c3c2-5dfa-45bb-b3bf-391e3b85df86, 6f4e2fc4-7c1c-40e5-bb1d-1e09b008be25)