The indictment was announced on 28/4, originating from an Instagram photo Comey posted in 5/2025. The image showed seashells arranged to form the numbers 8647 on the sand. According to the indictment, this sequence was a "serious expression of intent to harm the U.S. President". Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Comey faces two charges: "willfully threatening to take the life and inflict bodily harm upon the U.S. President", and making a federal threat. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

President Donald Trump alleged that "86" in slang meant to kill, and 47 referred to him as the 47th president. "He knows exactly what it means", Trump said. "It means assassination".

Blanche emphasized that threatening anyone's life is a dangerous act and can constitute a criminal offense. "The Department of Justice will never tolerate acts threatening the life of the U.S. President", he stated.

Comey during a Capitol Hill hearing in 2017. *AFP*.

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin condemned the indictment, calling it "baseless" and a "petty act of revenge". He added, "This is another instance of the Department of Justice being weaponized and used to vent the anger of a vengeful president".

Comey pleaded "not guilty" and expressed no fear regarding the charges. He had previously apologized for the Instagram post, explaining that he did not realize "some people associated that number sequence with violent acts". "I never considered that, but I oppose violence in all forms, so I removed the post", the former FBI director said at the time.

Photo of the "8647" number sequence made from seashells, posted by former FBI director James Comey on social media in 2025. *Instagram/James Comey*.

Comey served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017 and was fired by President Trump four months into his first term. At the time, the FBI was investigating allegations of ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In 9/2025, Comey was indicted on charges of perjury before Congress and obstructing congressional proceedings. Two months later, a federal judge dismissed the case, ruling that the federal prosecutor chosen by Trump to bring the charges had not been properly appointed.