Comey Charged Over Seashell Photo Threat
Former United States FBI director James Comey has been charged with threatening President Trump. The charge comes from a 2025 Instagram photo Comey posted.
The photo showed seashells arranged to spell the numbers 8647. The Justice Department says those numbers call for violence against Trump.
Trump accused Comey of calling for the assassination of the president. Comey said he did not know some people link those numbers to violence.
He wrote online saying he was innocent and not afraid. His lawyer plans to fight the charges based on free speech rights.
Comey faces two serious criminal counts. Each count carries up to 10 years in prison.
The case was brought in North Carolina and an arrest warrant was issued. This is the second time Trump's Justice Department has charged Comey.
Comey has often criticized Trump. The first charge was thrown out by a judge.
Key Terms 5
- FBI The United States federal police and security agency
- indicted Formally charged with a serious crime by a grand jury
- felony A serious crime that can lead to years in prison
- First Amendment US law protecting freedom of speech and expression
- 8647 Numbers some people interpret as a call to remove or harm a president