Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Tuesday related to a now-deleted social media post from May 2025, according to multiple reports.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) brought the charges over Comey’s Instagram post that featured the numbers“8647,” which critics interpreted to be a call to “take out” or kill President Donald Trump. This marks the DOJ’s second indictment against Comey.
When used as slang, the “86” can refer to taking someone out. Following backlash from critics, Comey deleted the post and said he did not know that “86” could be interpreted in such a way.
BREAKING: @FoxNews colleague @davidspunt reports that former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again in relation to his “8647” seashell post on Instagram last year.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) April 28, 2026
Comey told MS NOW that he and his wife found the shells on the beach and his wife pointed out that the number “86” is code to remove an item from a menu in the restaurant industry. He took a photo of the shells and posted it online, believing the formation was “clever.”
Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the Secret Service would investigate Comey for what she said was a call “for the assassination” of Trump. Comey sat down for an in-person interview with Secret Service agents on the matter, but the DOJ later dropped the case.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Comey should have been “put behind bars” and was “very concerned” for Trump’s safety.
A grand jury first indicted Comey in September over accusations that he lied and obstructed a congressional investigation during his testimony in 2020. A judge dismissed the indictment in November, arguing that Trump’s appointment of Lindsey Halligan as the interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia did not follow federal law for such positions.
An attempted assassination on Trump’s life occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in the Washington Hilton Saturday night, leading to the arrest of Cole Allen, the alleged assailant.
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