Comey's Post: Trump Threat
Justice Department says Comey's seashell post could be read as a threat against Donald Trump
Federal prosecutors say there is "no serious dispute" that former FBI Director James Comey's social media post of seashells arranged in the pattern "86 47" could be read as a threat against President Donald Trump, according to SF Chronicle. The number "86" is slang for killing someone, while "47" refers to Trump, the 47th president.
Prosecutors are now defending their decision to charge Comey, pushing back hard on his claim that he simply stumbled upon the shells while walking on a beach in North Carolina, according to Times Union.
Prosecutors Challenge Comey's Beach Discovery Story
Comey posted the photo to social media and said he found the shells by chance during a walk. But prosecutors are skeptical. They suggested the arrangement was not accidental, according to Jonesboro Sun. The Justice Department said the post was a "thinly veiled" message, not an innocent find.
Comey deleted the post shortly after putting it up. He said he had no idea anyone would read it as a call to violence, according to CT Post. Prosecutors say that explanation does not hold up.
The '86 47' Code and What It Means
The number "86" has long been used as slang for eliminating or killing someone. Paired with "47," Trump's presidential number, prosecutors argue the message is clear. According to Kokomo Tribune, the Justice Department says a reasonable person could read the post as a threat against the president.
The standard for a criminal threat does not require that the sender intended harm. Prosecutors only need to show that a reasonable person could view the message as threatening. That bar, they argue, is easily met here, according to Houston Chronicle.
Prosecutors Tie Post to Comey's Upcoming Novel
The Justice Department also argued the post was not random. They said it appeared designed to promote a forthcoming novel Comey wrote. The book features a social media personality whose words inspire fans to attack his enemies, according to SF Chronicle. Prosecutors called the timing suspicious.
That framing adds a layer to the case. If the post was tied to book promotion, it undercuts Comey's claim that it was a casual beach moment. Prosecutors say the context makes the intent harder to dismiss, according to Times Union.
What Comes Next in the Comey Prosecution
The Justice Department's filing is part of its effort to keep the case alive. Comey's legal team has pushed to have the charges dropped. Prosecutors responded by saying the facts of the case are not seriously in dispute, according to Jonesboro Sun.
The case is closely watched because it involves a former top law enforcement official charged with threatening a sitting president. Comey led the FBI from 2013 until Trump fired him in 2017. The outcome could set a precedent for how social media posts are treated as criminal threats, according to CT Post.
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