Former FBI Director James Comey appeared in federal court after being indicted over a photo he posted on Instagram in 2025. The image showed seashells arranged on a beach to spell out the numbers 86 and 47. Comey quickly deleted the post, saying he did not realize some people associated these numbers with violence.
The Trump administration and Justice Department interpret the numbers differently. They believe "86" means "get rid of" and "47" refers to Donald Trump, the 47th president. The Justice Department has charged Comey with making threats against the president and transmitting threats across state lines. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Comey surrendered to authorities on April 29 and appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. This is the second indictment against him by the Trump Justice Department. The first case, from September 2025, was dismissed by a judge in November 2025.
However, proving a federal threat charge is difficult. Prosecutors must show a "true threat," not simply careless words. The Supreme Court has made this standard even stricter. Comey posted a video saying he remains innocent and believes in the federal judiciary. The case will test whether a cryptic photo crosses the line into criminal behavior.