By THE ALASKA STORY
April 28, 2026 – Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on two felony counts that could carry a combined penalty of up to 20 years in prison, according to charging documents filed in federal court.
The indictment, returned in the UX District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, accuses Comey of “knowingly and willfully” making a threat against Donald Trump, including a communication interpreted by prosecutors as a serious expression of intent to harm the president.
At the center of the case is a May 2025 social media post in which Comey shared a photograph of seashells arranged to read “86 47.” Federal prosecutors argue that the phrase could reasonably be interpreted as a threat, noting that “86” is commonly used as slang for eliminating or getting rid of something, and sometimes refers to killing someone, while “47” is a reference to Trump’s status as the 47th president.
According to the indictment, “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret [the message] as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”
A second count alleges that Comey “knowingly and willfully” transmitted a threat in interstate and foreign commerce by posting the image on Instagram, bringing the case under federal statutes governing threats against the president.
Each count carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel said the case would be handled like any other alleged threat against a sitting president.
“James Comey allegedly threatened the life of the President of the United States,” Patel said. “Mr. Comey will have his day in court and his ability to speak to a jury of his peers.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting threats against the president regardless of the individual involved. Many Alaskan leftists have carried signs that say “86 47” on them during protests since Trump was reelected.
“Threatening the life of the President of the United States will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice,” Blanche said. “While this case is unique, this indictment stands out because of the name of the defendant. His alleged conduct is the same kind of conduct that we will never tolerate and that we will always investigate and regularly prosecute.”
The charging documents also note that Comey deleted the post shortly after it was published and later issued an apology. Prosecutors indicated that sequence of events was presented to the grand jury.
The case comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding the president, following multiple reported threats in recent years, which prosecutors argue adds context to how such communications may be interpreted.
Comey had not yet entered a plea. The case will proceed in federal court, where prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the post constituted a true threat under federal law.
