The DOJ suggests Comey’s photo might be seen as a ‘serious expression of an intent to do harm.’
The US Department of Justice has indicted James Comey again, this time for a supposed threat he made towards President Donald Trump on Instagram, as reported earlier by CNN. According to the indictment filed in a North Carolina federal court on Tuesday, the DOJ points to the now-removed Instagram image Comey posted last May, which displayed a seashell arrangement forming the numbers “8647.”
The DOJ argues that “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm.” The term “eighty-six” can mean to “get rid of” or “throw out,” according to Merriam-Webster, while Trump is the 47th president. Comey’s caption read, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
During a press conference on Tuesday, Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Comey “knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of and to inflict bodily harm” on Trump. The DOJ is accusing Comey of threatening the president and sending a threat in interstate commerce.
“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey said after deleting the post on May 15th. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.” Comey was previously indicted in September 2025 for allegedly lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. A judge later dismissed the case.