Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted for a second time over a 2025 Instagram post that was interpreted to be a threat to Donald Trump.
'I'm Still Not Afraid': James Comey Faces Second Indictment Over Alleged '86 47' Trump Threat
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey is facing legal trouble yet again as he has been indicted for a second time over a 2025 Instagram post showing shells arranged to read "86 47" on a beach.
Prosecutors allege that the post constituted a threat against President Donald Trump. Comey, however, has denied any such intent.
Further, the former FBI director has claimed that a key leader is pulling the strings to “weaponize” the justice system against him.
Why Was James Comey Indicted?
According to The New York Times, Comey posted a photo on Instagram in 2025 showing shells arranged to read "86 47" with the caption, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
He deleted the post after it drew heavy backlash, as prosecutors interpreted the number 86 as a reference to harming Trump.
In certain contexts, the number 86 can have a negative connotation, meaning “to eliminate or kill.”
An X post detailing the James Comey indictment.
Lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower said, “Yes, it can mean ‘to murder.’ But without any very specific indication that that’s the intended meaning, you’d never assume that.”
Trump's advisers, however, interpreted the post as a threat.
According to a report by CNN, three sources told the outlet that the Trump administration is making a second attempt to prosecute the former FBI director.
This time, a grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey allegedly took the photograph, approved charges against him, the sources stated.
Court documents mentioned that Comey had transmitted a threat in interstate commerce.
Following the indictment, Comey posted a 36-second video on his Substack account in which he said, "This won't be the end of it. I'm still innocent. I'm still not afraid. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let's go."
He said that the case does not reflect the true values of the United States and urged supporters to "keep the faith."
Prosecutors May Face Legal Challenge
CNN reported that prosecutors face a legal challenge because they must prove Comey "knowingly and willfully" threatened to "take the life of" Trump.
Comey said he removed the post after realizing the shells could be read as a "political message" and that he had not been aware some people associate the number 86 with violence.
"It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down," he said.
Comey's attorneys have declined to comment on the matter. Defense attorneys are also challenging the indictment on First Amendment grounds.