The United States Department of Justice has formally charged former FBI Director James Comey with making threats against President Donald Trump. This indictment follows a federal grand jury’s decision after prosecutors highlighted a controversial social media post they interpret as signaling an intent to harm the 47th president.
If found guilty, Comey could face up to ten years in federal prison. The case centers on an Instagram image Comey shared in May 2025, which showed seashells arranged on a beach to form the numbers ’86 47′. While this might appear harmless to some, the Department of Justice argues that anyone familiar with the context would see it as a serious threat.
Legal analysts note that ’86’ is American slang for ejecting or eliminating someone, and ’47’ refers to Trump’s position as the 47th President of the United States. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stressed the seriousness of threatening the president’s life, especially in light of recent increases in political violence.
Comey has denied any knowledge of the violent implications tied to the numbers. Although he removed the post soon after it caused public backlash, the DOJ proceeded with the charges. The timing is particularly sensitive, coming just days after an assassination attempt on President Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC.
This indictment adds to the ongoing and intense conflict between Comey and Trump. Serving as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, Comey has been an outspoken critic of Trump, once likening his leadership to that of a ‘mob boss’.
Previously, Comey faced charges for allegedly lying to Congress last year, but those charges were dismissed by a judge. As this new case moves forward, it highlights the deeply divided and volatile state of American politics today.
