Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a two-count federal indictment charging James Comey with threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce related to a May Instagram photo of seashells. Each count carries up to 10 years in prison. Comey denied the charges in a Substack video and his lawyer said they will contest the indictment, calling it wrongful and a First Amendment matter. The action follows Blanche’s appointment after the removal of former AG Pam Bondi and comes after a prior indictment of Comey was dismissed over an unlawful prosecutor appointment.
Acting AG Todd Blanche Announces Indictment of James Comey Over Seashell Instagram Post
Todd Blanche seems desperate to make his Attorney General gig permanent. / Screenshot/X / Screenshot/X(Screenshot/X)
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a federal indictment this week charging former FBI director James Comey over an Instagram photo of seashells that prosecutors say conveyed a threat against President Trump. The move — which comes after Blanche’s recent appointment as acting attorney general — has drawn sharp reactions from both supporters and critics.
MAGAworld saw more than just seashells in a now-deleted Instagram post by James Comey. / Instagram / Getty Images
Indictment Details
Blanche said a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned a two-count indictment charging Comey with making a threat against the president’s life and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, Blanche noted.
Blanche has represented Trump as his personal attorney in multiple cases, including the Manhattan hush-money case, in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. / Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS
The charges center on a May Instagram post in which Comey shared a photo of seashells arranged in the sand that some observers read as "86 47." The post was captioned: "Cool shell formation on my beach walk." Prosecutors allege the combination implied a call to "86" (slang for get rid of) the 47th president.
Trump followed the accidental
Comey’s Response
"Well, they're back. This time, about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina beach a year ago... I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary," Comey said in a video posted to his Substack.
Comey’s attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, told reporters the former FBI director "vigorously denies the charges" and that the defense will "contest these charges in the courtroom and look forward to vindicating Mr. Comey and the First Amendment." The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
James Comey was fired as FBI director by Donald Trump in 2017. / Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Background and Context
Blanche is serving as acting attorney general after President Trump dismissed former Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this month amid criticism that she had not moved quickly enough to bring charges against the president’s critics. The announcement also follows an earlier indictment of Comey last September that a federal judge dismissed because of the unlawful appointment of the interim U.S. attorney who brought those charges.
In September, the president accidentally posted a message on Truth Social intended for Bondi urging prosecutions of critics, naming Comey among others. Critics argue the new indictment reflects political pressure on the Justice Department; supporters say the charges must be evaluated on their legal merits.
What Happens Next
Comey has pledged to fight the charges in court. If the case proceeds, it is likely to raise questions about intent, free-speech protections, and the circumstances surrounding the appointment of the acting attorney general who brought the indictment.
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