James Comey Expands Legal Team Amid Federal Indictments

James Comey, the former FBI Director, has brought on Joseph Zezotarski Jr., a seasoned attorney from Raleigh with over three decades of experience in state and federal trials, to help contest recent federal charges against him.

The indictments, which were filed in late April 2026, relate to an Instagram post from May 15, 2025. This post featured a photo of shells arranged on a North Carolina beach, spelling out “86 47.” Many believe this image signifies a coded threat against former President Donald Trump. The interpretation suggests that “47” references Trump’s position, while “86” is often understood as a term for removing or excluding something—interpreted by authorities as having more violent connotations.

Comey has firmly denied any wrongdoing, insisting the post was innocuous. He stated he simply came across the shell arrangement while walking and thought it conveyed a typical political statement. However, he deleted the post the same day due to widespread criticism.

This case marks another round of legal challenges under the Trump administration’s Justice Department, with a previous prosecution against Comey being dismissed in late 2025 by a judge appointed by Bill Clinton. Despite mounting pressure, Comey continues to assert his innocence and, in a recent video, expressed that he feels “not afraid.”

“I’m not afraid. I’m not going to talk about pending cases, but I won’t stop discussing the threats this administration poses to the rule of law,” Comey stated following his second indictment.

A federal judge has set Comey’s trial to begin on July 15th, laying out a timeline for what promises to be a significant legal battle, giving his newly enlarged legal team nearly two months to prepare their defense against the indictment.