The Justice Department has issued a second indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. This latest legal action stems from an Instagram post shared in May 2025 featuring a shell formation on a beach.
The image displayed the numbers 86 and 47 arranged in the sand. Critics and administration officials interpreted the post as a veiled threat against the 47th president, Donald Trump.
In service industry slang, the term 86 is frequently used to describe the act of removing or canceling something. Given the political climate, many observers viewed the combination of these numbers as a direct reference to the president.
Comey removed the post shortly after it was uploaded to his social media account. He claimed that he had misinterpreted the shells as a general political message rather than a specific threat.
The former director stated that he did not realize the numbers were associated with violence. He emphasized his opposition to violence and maintained that the post was not intended to be malicious.
President Donald Trump rejected this explanation during an interview with Bret Baier. He argued that a former FBI director would certainly understand the implications of such a message.
This indictment arrives shortly after a federal judge allowed a separate lawsuit filed by Comey's daughter, Maurene Comey, to proceed. She is suing the Justice Department over her termination, alleging it was based on her father's identity and political affiliations.
James Comey has remained a vocal critic of the president since his initial firing in 2017. His tenure at the FBI was marked by significant controversy surrounding the investigation into Russian interference.
A previous indictment against Comey regarding alleged lies to Congress was dismissed by a federal judge. That ruling cited the improper appointment of the prosecutor handling the case.
Legal representatives for Comey have not yet provided a formal comment on these new charges. The situation continues to draw significant attention from both political observers and legal experts in Washington.
The Justice Department has not released specific details regarding the counts included in this latest filing. Further developments are expected as the case moves through the federal court system.