James Comey Indicted Again by DOJ
The Department of Justice has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for a second time, intensifying the ongoing legal disputes between him and the Trump administration. Comey has been accused of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional inquiry.
This latest indictment, announced on Tuesday, relates to a controversial social media post from last year. In it, Comey posted a picture of seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47.” However, specific details of the charges have not yet been released to the public.
Federal prosecutors argue that the image was a covert threat against President Donald Trump. They interpret “86” as slang for removing or eliminating someone, which, when combined with “47”—a reference to the future 47th president—could be seen as inciting violence or making an unlawful threat.
While Trump is currently overseas on an international trip, one of his supporters expressed concern about the implications of Comey’s post, suggesting it could be seen as a serious attack on the president.
This fresh indictment comes after an earlier case against Comey fell apart in September 2025. That indictment, which accused him of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation related to his 2020 testimony about media leaks, was dismissed by a federal judge appointed by Bill Clinton due to a procedural issue regarding the appointment of the acting U.S. Attorney.
Compounding the situation, Comey’s family is involved in separate legal battles against the administration. On the same day as the new indictment, a federal judge ruled that his daughter, Maurene Comey, could move forward with a lawsuit claiming wrongful termination from the DOJ. She argues that her firing was an act of political revenge against her father.
James Comey has repeatedly asserted his innocence, arguing that the “86 47” photo was simply a political statement about the upcoming 2024 election and that he stands firmly against violence. His legal team views the current prosecutions as politically driven, asserting they infringe upon established norms meant to protect law enforcement and the judicial system from partisan manipulation.
