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9 clusters · 68 sources · 49 days · First seen about 2 months ago · Last updated 2 days ago

James Comey seashell threat case update

Overview

In late July 2026, former FBI director James Comey filed a federal motion to dismiss a two-count indictment accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump with an Instagram post of seashells spelling ‘86 47.’ Comey’s counsel maintains the image is a political slogan—“86” meaning “get rid of” and “47” referring to Trump as the 47th president—rather than a true threat, and argues the prosecution violates his First Amendment rights. The defense renewed the dismissal request and sought a Franks hearing, alleging prosecutorial misconduct, including the omission of key facts and a vindictive, selective prosecution motivated by presidential animus.

Court filings released in August 2026 revealed an FBI search warrant affidavit showing that two minutes before Comey uploaded the Instagram photo, his wife, Patrice Comey, sent him a Google screenshot defining “86” as nonviolent restaurant slang meaning an item is out of stock. The defense characterizes this text as “benign,” maintaining it supports Comey’s claim of innocence by providing a non-violent context. The Justice Department has defended the indictment, arguing there is “no serious dispute” that the post could be interpreted as a threat, and suggesting it was an attempt to promote Comey’s forthcoming novel, ‘FDR Drive.’

In September 2026, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the case, ruling that the prosecutor who secured the indictment, Lindsey Halligan, was unlawfully appointed. The DOJ is now appealing this decision to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that Halligan’s appointment was lawful and that the 120-day limit for interim appointments should reset with a new appointee.

Entities

James Comey · Donald Trump · Department of Justice · FBI · Todd Blanche

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 14 SOURCES] James Comey was charged in April 2025 with two felonies for posting an Instagram photo of seashells arranged as “86 47,” which prosecutors say threatened President Donald Trump.
[● 14 SOURCES] Comey’s defense alleges prosecutors omitted key facts, distorted evidence, and pursued a vindictive, selective prosecution.
[● 14 SOURCES] The Department of Justice alleges the numbers “86 47” constitute a threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president.
[● 11 SOURCES] Comey's attorneys filed motions seeking dismissal of the charges and a Franks hearing to challenge the evidence.
[● 11 SOURCES] Defense alleges Secret Service conducted unlawful electronic tracking of Comey's cellphone without an immediate danger.
[● 11 SOURCES] Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano said gangsters use the term “86” to refer to killing someone and that he never discussed the term with Comey.
[● 11 SOURCES] The trial is scheduled for October 21, 2025 in New Bern, North Carolina.

Timeline

2 days ago

[POLITICS] 3 sources
Department of Justice appeals dismissal of Comey and James cases
The DOJ is asking a federal appeals court to revive criminal cases against James Comey and Letitia James, which were previously dismissed due to the alleged unlawful appointment of their prosecutor.
21 days ago

[POLITICS] 3 sources
Department of Justice faces scrutiny over political prosecutions
The U.S. Department of Justice faces allegations of political retribution, including a controversial prosecution of James Comey involving an Instagram photo of seashells.
25 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
James Comey faces federal charges over Instagram post
Former FBI Director James Comey faces federal charges for allegedly threatening President Trump via an Instagram post. Investigators interviewed mob figure Salvatore Gravano regarding the post's meaning.
25 days ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
James Comey prosecutors use his novel in criminal case
US prosecutors are citing James Comey’s novel ‘FDR Drive’ to support charges that he threatened Donald Trump via a coded social media post, a move criticized by free speech advocates.
27 days ago

[POLITICS] 14 sources
Department of Justice defends James Comey prosecution over seashell post
The DOJ is defending its prosecution of James Comey, arguing his '86 47' seashell social media post was a coded threat against President Trump and a ploy to promote his new novel.
about 1 month ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
James Comey court filings reveal wife's text before seashell post
New court filings reveal Patrice Comey sent James Comey a nonviolent definition of ‘86’ two minutes before he posted a seashell image reading ‘86 47’, a post central to a presidential threat case.
about 1 month ago

[POLITICS] 2 sources
James Comey defense seeks dismissal of DOJ case over Instagram post
Former FBI Director James Comey is seeking to dismiss a DOJ case alleging an Instagram post featuring the numbers “86-47” was a threat against Donald Trump.
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 18 sources
James Comey claims prosecutorial misconduct in seashell threat case against President Trump
James Comey seeks dismissal of felony charges over a seashell “86 47” post, alleging prosecutorial misconduct, illegal phone tracking, AI use, and a mafia informant’s testimony; trial set for Oct 21, 2025 in NC
about 2 months ago

[POLITICS] 27 sources
James Comey Requests Dismissal of Threat Case Over 2025 Seashell Post
James Comey seeks to dismiss a federal indictment alleging a threat to Donald Trump from a 2025 seashell post, arguing it’s protected political speech under the First Amendment.

Sources

100percentfedup.com · abc17news.com · abc7chicago.com · aljazeera.com · alternet.org · americanfaith.com · antiguatribune.com · barbadosgazette.com · ca.sports.yahoo.com · circleid.com · cremation.com · czechct.cz · diamenty.forbes.pl · dnyuz.com · document.no · drudge.com · dubai-investments.com · edf-feph.org · elnuevodiario.com.do · emptywheel.net · epochtimes.com · haberaktuel.com · hawaiitribune-herald.com · independent.co.uk · independentmediacenter.org · insider.foxnews.com · jamaicainquirer.com · justthenews.com · kesq.com · keyt.com · kfyo.com · krdo.com · kvia.com · latimes.com · localnews8.com · midutahradio.com · msnbc.com · mymotherlode.com · nationalmemo.com · nbcnews.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com · newsday.com · newsfactsnetwork.com · onechapteraday.fr · pjmedia.com · rawstory.com · reason.com · rocketnews.com

This summary has been updated 11 times: see revision history