The Department of Justice accuses former FBI director James Comey for an Instagram post

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comeyin a case that once again places him at the center of the political confrontation with President Donald Trump. The accusation is related to a publication on Instagram made in May 2025, which federal authorities interpret as a possible threat.

According to court documents, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned two indictments against Comey. The first corresponds to the alleged violation of a federal law that prohibits threatening the president of the United States. The second is linked to the transmission of interstate communications that contain threats of physical harm.

The controversy revolves around an image published by Comey in which seashells appeared forming the number “8647.” According to prosecutors, the number “86” can be interpreted as slang for “eliminate” or “get rid of someone,” while “47” would be a reference to the former president, identified as the country’s 47th president.

Interpretation of the message and official reaction

Administration officials maintain that the publication could be understood by a “reasonable person” as a serious threat against the president.. The acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, stated that “threatening the life of the president of the United States is a serious violation of the law” and stressed that the Department of Justice will not tolerate this type of behavior.

For his part, the former director of the FBI, Kash Patel noted that Comey, due to his experience at the head of the agency, knew the potential impact of his message.. According to Patel, the investigation was carried out with noxious evidence and established procedures.

The case also includes an arrest warrant issued by the grand jury. If convicted, Comey could face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison on each of the charges.

Comey has previously maintained that he did not intend to issue a threat. After the initial controversy, he deleted the publication and explained that he interpreted the image as a non-violent political message. At the time, various legal experts pointed out that the publication could be protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of expression.

Legal background and political context

This is the second time the Justice Department has attempted to prosecute Comey during the current administration.. In September 2025, the former official was indicted for allegedly lying to Congress and obstructing a legislative investigation related to his testimony regarding the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

However, last November, a federal judge dismissed that case, as well as another against New York’s top prosecutor, Letitia James, finding that the prosecutor in charge had been illegally appointed. The decision allowed charges to be filed again, as has happened now.

The conflict between Comey and Trump dates back to 2017, when the then president fired the FBI director amid the investigation into links between the Republican campaign and Russia. Since then, Comey has become an outspoken critic of the president.

Analysts consider that this new judicial process reflects the growing political tension in Washington and the intensive use of legal mechanisms in disputes between public figures. Meanwhile, the case continues its course in court, where Comey maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

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