A warrant has been issued in the US for the arrest of former FBI Director James Comey, and he has been brought before a federal court on charges of threatening President Donald Trump.
The editorial office, citing the US Department of Justice, Reuters, and AP, reports that Comey is being charged with two counts related to a photo of seashells with "86 47" written on them, which he shared on social media in 2025. Prosecutors consider this post a threat against the US president.
According to the indictment, Comey is accused of threatening to harm the life and health of the US president, as well as transmitting a threatening message via interstate communication. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
The issue began in May 2025 with a photo Comey shared on Instagram. The photo showed the numbers "86 47" arranged with seashells. In US political lexicon, the phrase "86" is sometimes used to mean to remove or get rid of someone, while "47" has been interpreted as a reference to Trump being the 47th president of the United States.
Comey, however, denies the charges. He stated that he intended the post as a political message and had no intention of inciting violence. The former FBI director said he deleted the photo after realizing it could be misunderstood.
According to AP, Comey appeared in federal court in Virginia and was released. His lawyers are preparing to argue that the charges are politically motivated and violate the First Amendment of the Constitution regarding freedom of speech.
Legal experts state that the case will be challenging for the prosecution. In their opinion, the government must prove that Comey's post was not merely crude political expression but a real and serious threat, and that Comey made it knowingly.
This is the second federal indictment against Comey in the past year. Previously, a case was opened against him regarding congressional testimony, but that case was dismissed due to legal issues concerning a prosecutor's appointment.
Comey served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017 and was dismissed by Trump. Since then, Comey has been one of Trump's most prominent critics.
The new indictment has further intensified the debate in Washington regarding the boundaries of law and politics. The Trump administration presents it as taking threats against the president seriously, while critics view the case as an example of legal pressure against political opponents.