Comey says seashells post was political speech - not a threat - as he presses to dismiss charges
Comey says the image was political speech protected by the First Amendment and that prosecutors have not shown he intended a true threat.
- On Monday, Former FBI Director James Comey formally asked a federal judge to dismiss his indictment, arguing his Instagram post of seashells spelling "86 47" was protected political speech, not a "true threat" against President Donald Trump.
- Prosecutors claim a "reasonable recipient" would interpret the May 2025 post as a "serious expression of an intent to do harm," leading to the two-count indictment charging Comey with transmitting threats in interstate commerce.
- Defense lawyers argue "86" signifies "get rid of" or "eject" rather than violence, maintaining the post constitutes protected expression under the First Amendment of the Constitution as a well-known political slogan.
- Counsel warned allowing the case to proceed would "permit the government to chill political opposition" through unfounded charges, arguing the prosecution imposes unconstitutional burdens on protected speech.
- This indictment follows a separate case dismissed last year after a judge ruled the prosecutor was unlawfully appointed; Comey faces potential arraignment in late September regarding these new charges.
146 Articles
146 Articles
Comey Seeks To Toss ‘86 47’ Trump Threat Charges, Claims Seashell Post Was Protected Speech
Former FBI Director James Comey asked a federal judge Monday to dismiss with prejudice the criminal charges stemming from his “86 47” seashell post, claiming the image constituted protected political speech rather than a “true threat” against President Donald Trump. Comey’s attorneys filed the motion in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. A federal grand jury indicted him in April on one count of threatening the P…
James Comey's Federal Case Takes a Major Turn - Patriot Newsfeed
James Comey, the former FBI director, now faces federal charges for a photo of seashells. Prosecutors claim the image spelled “86 47” as a threat against President Trump. Comey’s team now asks a judge to toss the case entirely. They argue the photo was just political speech, not a crime. This legal battle tests the limits of free expression in our country. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in April. The case could go to trial this Oct…
Sneaky 'jab' smacks Supreme Court as Trump foe takes on his DOJ in new filing: expert
On Monday, former FBI Director James Comey filed a motion to dismiss his prosecution over a photograph of seashells he shared on Instagram, and buried within the 42-page brief, as noted by legal expert Joyce Vance, was a “little jab” at the Supreme Court.Comey was indicted in April on two felony counts for sharing a photograph of seashells on the beach laid out to read “86 47.” The number 47 was interpreted as a reference to Trump as the 47th pr…
Maryland May Have a Rabid Beaver Problem, Lindsey Graham’s Death Has “Rattled” Trump, and Comey Asks Court to Dismiss Seashells Case
Good morning. A day of rain and storms awaits, with a high around 86. Storms continue into tonight, with a low near 69. The Mystics host the Connecticut Sun at CareFirst Arena this evening. The Nationals play host to the Blue Jays again tonight. ⚖️ The deadline to vote in our Top Lawyers survey is
Comey Attorneys Seek Dismissal of Indictment Over ’86 47′ Instagram Post › American Greatness
Attorneys for former FBI Director James Comey are asking a federal court to toss out the indictment accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump’s life, […] Source
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