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The Democrats Need to '86' James Comey

The Democrats Need to '86' James Comey

Summary

The Justice Department has charged former FBI Director James Comey with threatening President Donald Trump through a social media post showing seashells arranged as "86 47," which prosecutors interpret as a coded threat. Comey denies any harmful intent and plans to fight the charges in court, with his lawyers citing First Amendment protections.

Key Facts

  • James Comey posted an Instagram photo in May 2025 with seashells arranged as "86 47."
  • "86" is slang meaning "to get rid of," and "47" refers to President Donald Trump being the 47th president.
  • The Justice Department says the photo was a threat against President Trump.
  • Comey deleted the post and said he opposes violence.
  • Comey’s lawyers plan to defend the case, arguing it involves protected free speech.
  • The accusation emerges amid tense political context following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
  • Previous investigations found Comey acted improperly in handling Hillary Clinton’s email case in 2016, which some say affected the 2016 election outcome.
  • Democrats are urged to distance themselves from Comey due to his controversial record.
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