DOJ presses to keep James Comey charged over '86 47' post
What's new: Prosecutors tied the post to Comey's 2025 novel and argued an objective viewer could read it as a threat to kill Trump.
The Justice Department urged a federal judge in North Carolina not to dismiss criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey over his May 2025 Instagram post showing seashells arranged as "86 47." In filings Tuesday, prosecutors argued the image could reasonably be read as a threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president, and disputed Comey's claim that he did not know the phrase could imply violence. They also pointed to his novel "FDR Drive," released days later, saying it featured a social media figure whose words spur attacks on enemies. Comey's lawyers have called the case vindictive and selective, saying "86 47" is a common political slogan meaning to get rid of Trump, not a true threat.