Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to federal court on Wednesday, facing charges of threatening President Trump over a social media post featuring shells arranged as “86 47” on a beach.
Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to law enforcement at federal court in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday, briefly placed under arrest before a hearing lasting less than ten minutes. Comey is charged with making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, stemming from a social media post of shells spelling out “86 47.” He was released without conditions and no plea was entered.
The charges centre on a picture Comey posted last May, captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Republicans immediately condemned it as a death threat, as “86” can mean getting rid of something and Trump is the 47th president. Comey’s attorneys plan to accuse the Justice Department of selective and vindictive prosecution. “I am still innocent,” Comey said in a Substack video Tuesday.