Former FBI Director James Comey turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday to face federal charges that accuse him of threatening President Donald Trump’s life through an Instagram post.
The case centers on a photo Comey shared in May 2025 showing seashells arranged on a beach to spell out the numbers “86 47.” Prosecutors claim the image was a veiled threat against Trump, the 47th president. In slang, “86” is commonly understood to mean “get rid of” or “eliminate,” and when combined with “47,” they argue it encouraged violence against the president.
Comey has strongly denied any wrongdoing. He says he did not understand the numbers as a threat and insists the prosecution is politically motivated.
Comey appeared briefly in a Virginia federal court on Wednesday afternoon but did not enter a plea or make any statements during the hearing. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said the defense will ask the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Comey is being targeted because of his public criticism of Trump.
According to reports, Comey remained mostly quiet as the judge read the charges and nodded when informed of his rights. He smiled at family members as he left the courthouse.
The two charges against Comey — knowingly making a threat to take the president’s life and transmitting a threat through interstate commerce — each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if he is convicted.
After public backlash, Comey deleted the original post, which was captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” He later explained in a follow-up post that he had not realized some people associated the numbers with violence. “It never occurred to me,” he wrote, adding that he opposes violence of any kind.
President Trump responded sharply to the charges, calling Comey a “crooked man” and saying the term “86” is well-known in criminal circles as meaning “kill him.”
Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the decision to bring charges, saying it was “absolutely, positively not” politically motivated. “You cannot threaten the president of the United States,” Blanche told CBS News. He also pointed to a recent security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner as evidence of the serious risks such threats can create.
However, not everyone agrees the case is strong. Some Republican lawmakers and legal experts have expressed skepticism. Senator Thom Tillis said he hopes there is more evidence than just “a picture in the sand,” warning that the case could set a dangerously low bar for future prosecutions. A former federal prosecutor appointed by President George W. Bush called the indictment “an embarrassment to the American criminal justice system.”
This is the second time the Justice Department has brought criminal charges against Comey during Trump’s second term. In September, Comey was indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. That case was later dismissed by a judge due to issues with the prosecutor’s appointment.
Comey was fired by Trump during his first term after leading an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Since then, Trump has repeatedly called for Comey to face prosecution.
The case is expected to continue in federal court in Virginia.
