Justice Department Prosecutes James Comey for Threatening Donald Trump

The United States Department of Justice is prosecuting former FBI Director James Comey on two federal felony counts of threatening the life of the president and transmitting a threat. The charges center on a May 2025 Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read 86 47. Prosecutors argue that an objective viewer could interpret the post as a call to kill President Donald Trump, the 47th president, and allege the post was a calculated attempt to generate publicity for Comey's novel, FDR Drive.

James Comey denies the charges, asserting that he found the shells on a beach and intended the post as a political statement. He has filed motions to challenge the indictment, characterizing the legal action as vindictive and selective prosecution. U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle has defended the indictment, stating it was based on independent judgment without outside pressure.

If U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan allows the case to proceed, Comey is scheduled for arraignment on September 30, with a trial date set for October 21.