Former FBI director James Comey has once again been indicted, this time over a social media post that authorities say may have been interpreted as a threat toward President Donald Trump. The latest indictment underscores the controversy and ongoing tensions between Trump and Comey, whose relationship has been strained since Trump fired him as FBI director in 2017, a move that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.
The latest case centers on a now-deleted Instagram photo shared in May 2025, showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647.” At the time, Trump and his allies argued the image suggested harm against him, with Trump claiming it amounted to “calling for the assassination of the president.” The number combination has circulated among critics of Trump, drawing on slang where “86” can mean to remove or get rid of something, paired with Trump’s status as the 47th president.
Comey quickly pushed back on that interpretation. In a follow-up message, he wrote, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” adding that he removed the post because “I oppose violence of any kind.” He later explained he believed the shells were simply a political message he encountered during a beach walk.
Despite that explanation, the post triggered a federal investigation. The United States Secret Service questioned Comey for hours, and the Department of Homeland Security also examined the matter. Prosecutors have now secured a new indictment in North Carolina, where Comey owns property.
This marks the second time Comey has faced federal charges since Trump returned to office in 2025. A previous case accusing him of making false statements to Congress and obstruction was dismissed after a judge ruled that the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, had been improperly appointed.
The renewed prosecution comes amid a broader push by the United States Department of Justice to pursue figures seen as political adversaries of Trump. The effort has drawn attention following other investigations and indictments involving high-profile figures, though some of those cases have also been dropped or declined due to legal concerns.
Legal experts note that proving the Instagram post constitutes a true threat could be difficult. Courts generally require evidence that a person intended—or clearly understood—their words would be seen as threatening. That standard may become central as the case moves forward, particularly given the broader use of “8647” in political protest messaging.
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