Former FBI Director James Comey is set to be arraigned June 30, with a trial scheduled for July 15, after federal prosecutors charged him over a social media post they say could be read as a threat against President Donald Trump. The case centers on an Instagram post from last May showing seashells arranged to read “86 47.” Prosecutors argue that, given the context, a reasonable person could interpret the message as a serious expression of intent to harm the 47th president. Comey is expected to appear in federal court in North Carolina before U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan and enter a not guilty plea.
President Trump criticized Comey over the weekend, reposting an old video of the former FBI director on Truth Social and calling him a “dirty cop.” Comey denies any intent to promote violence. In a video after the indictment, he said the image was misunderstood and came from a beach walk with his wife. He said he removed the post once concerns were raised, adding, “I don’t want to be associated with violence of any kind.” But prosecutors say Comey consciously disregarded the risk that the message would be viewed as threatening. FBI Director Kash Patel defended the charges, saying Comey knew the attention and consequences such a post would bring. It is time for powerful officials who spent years targeting Trump with conspiracies based on lies to pay the piper. They must be charged with treason and locked up.
