Comey Defends Seashells Post as Political Speech, Seeks Dismissal

WHO:

AP News - James Comey, former FBI Director

AP News - President Trump, 47th president of the United States

AP News - Letitia James, New York Attorney General

AP News - Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General

WHAT:

AP News - Comey urged a judge to dismiss federal charges against him.

AP News - The charges against Comey include making a threat to "take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon" Trump and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

AP News - Comey posted a photo of seashells arranged in the numerical sequence "86 47" on social media.

AP News - Comey deleted the post shortly after it was made.

WHERE:

AP News - Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

AP News - An earlier case against Comey in Virginia was dismissed in November 2022.

WHY:

AP News - Comey's lawyers argue that the government cannot prove the seashells post constituted a “true threat” against Trump.

AP News - Comey claims the post was protected political speech and not a call to violence.

AP News - The case is part of a retribution campaign by the Trump administration Justice Department against critics of Trump.

HOW:

AP News - Comey's attorneys argue that the post should be viewed as political hyperbole, not a true threat.

AP News - The Justice Department has not provided evidence of intent but stated that intent will be proven through witnesses and documents.

(UPDATED July 27, 2026 19:31 UTC)

James Comey, the former FBI Director, is urging a judge to dismiss federal charges against him, which include making threats against President Trump. Comey recently posted a photo of seashells arranged in the sequence "86 47" on social media, but deleted it shortly after, with his lawyers arguing that it was protected political speech rather than a true threat. They contend that the government cannot prove intent, while the Justice Department claims it will establish intent through witnesses and documents.