Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by the Department of Justice on Tuesday over an Instagram photo from May 2025 of seashells in the sand spelling out “86 47,” a message that some have claimed was a subliminal threat calling to end the life of President Donald Trump. After Tuesday’s indictment was announced, Comey released a video on Substack professing his innocence.
“Well, they’re back,” Comey said. “This time about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina beach a year ago.”
“And this won’t be the end of it, but nothing has changed with me,” Comey said. “I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So, let’s go.”
Tuesday’s indictment against him included two charges: “threatening the president in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c).” The DOJ alleged that by posting the video, the former FBI director “knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States.”
“This charge alleges that on May 15, 2025, by publicly posting an image over the internet via Instagram depicting ’86 47,’ which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States,” read a release issued by the Justice Department.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized Comey for posting the image and called his post a “grave violation of our nation’s laws.”
“Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” said Blanche. “The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable.”
JAMES COMEY INDICTED FOR A SECOND TIME
Meanwhile, Comey implied in his video that the charges stemmed from a political vendetta against him by the Trump administration. He said such actions are “not who we are as a country,” nor are they how the DOJ is “supposed to be.” Comey concluded his video expressing optimism that as each day passes, the country gets closer to “restoring those values” that predated the Trump presidency.
“But it’s really important that all of us remember this is not who we are as a country, this is not how the Department of Justice is supposed to be, and the good news is we get closer every day to restoring those values,” Comey said to conclude his video. “Keep the faith.”