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.
18 thoughts on “Former FBI Director Comey indicted for threatening life of president”
No matter what your feelings are regarding Trump, Comey has always been a lying slimeball!
So when the left uses 8647 it’s a death threat and when the right uses 8646 it’s just an impeachment request. Got it.
Never saw “8646” trending……by the way how many assassination attempts were there on ol sleepy joe?
Oh yeah, now I remeber…..
Joe Biden: Faced at least 3 significant, documented assassination plots/threats between his time as a presidential candidate and while in office. Barack Obama: Survived at least 11–13 reported assassination plots or serious security incidents during his two terms. Yes, the phrase “8646” was used frequently by critics during Joe Biden’s presidency (as the 46th president) to signify “86” (get rid of/remove) Biden. The term was used in social media posts, such as one by activist Jack Posobiec in 2022, and on merchandise like t-shirts and stickers. So Sal, I guess you don’t “remeber” very well.
Did ANYONE ever use 8646? Do you have any evidence that a prominent public figure used that expression? I bet you can not.
That being said, this is pretty ridiculous. James Comey is a sanctimonious creep. This will only give him more opportunity to play the victim, sell books and go on another round of speaking tours. Why give him that publicity?? Based on Comey’s decades long interference in our political process (remember Hillary and her bathroom server), I am convinced that he knew exactly what it meant, but there is no way to ever proof that. Considering that Hakeem Jeffries just declared “maximum warfare” on conservatives, this just fits, because Jeffries and his tolerant, open minded, peace loving, “violence is never the answer” folks, just want to get rid of the duly elected leader and his people, to you know “save democracy”.
Jack Posobiec. 86 46. Twitter – 7:23 PM · Jan 29, 2022. Jack is formerly with OANN and Turning Point USA. How much was our bet again? I won’t accept any Trump meme coins.
Nancy Griffith holding trumps severed head. Posted all over the world…
You telling me this hate has been equal? Get real, it’s not even close.
Also as you pointed out Biden faced “threats” and or “plots” not actual gun shots. Here’s your coin.
Jack who???
I said prominent as in household name. Ironically you just confirmed that you understand the phrase to be a threat….interesting. Furthermore this sounds so much like “he did it first”, which is pathetic, since we are ALL responsible for our own behavior and a prior despicable act does not erase culpability. It is further interesting that you are very serious about assassination attempts against other presidents, yet dismissive when it comes to the current occupant of the oval.
As I said earlier this is another tempest in a tea cup and I wish the grand jury would have just let it go, as this is about as proof-able as that 30 year old rape claim they tried on Kavanaugh.
Sorry, I forgot to include that any threat to any duly elected president and other leaders is unacceptable and antithetical to the continued health of our republic.
I see disturbing content from social media bemoaning the fact that DJT is not dead, encourages others to do better and displays disturbing screaming diatribes about unspeakable atrocity against “MAGA”. The depravity and callousness is breathtaking. It suffocates any reasonable debate, so important to the continuation of our republic.
Do I believe James Comey knew what he was posting (if you follow Damon’s argument as “they did it first”) yes I think he likes to stir the pot(and keep himself in the news). Can we proof this in a court of law? No, I believe we can not, as it is like a libel/defamation litigation, attempting to ascertaining intent.
The Mob always used “86” as a term to rub someone out. Comey was a dirty cop and Trump fired his ass. Comey needs to rot in prison with other gangsters from the Democrat Party. Merrick Garland, another dirty cop, will join him.
I almost feel sorry for the skittering conservatives. They have to support this episode of Trump’s lifelong revenge tour because they are liplocked to Trump’s butt. Republicans are low on ammunition if 86 47 constitutes an assassination threat.
It’s called “context” Evan. If I tell you I’m going to set a building on fire you should probably take notice. Even if I don’t do it, the threat exists. The words were spoken.
Also you said “revenge tour” maybe take a moment to self reflect on what events have transpired, spurned by the jackbooted sycophants on the left, such as yourself ,that might lead to the president feeling like revenge is due.
Low on ammunition? LOL. Trump is just getting started. He’s got mountains of ammo. Democrats are stupid when it comes to Trump. He’s got 2.5 years to pick off the worst of them. And he will.
Better go hide yurself, pal.
Sure Sal. Poor mr Trump. Since you are a Felon apologist, have you read the FBI report of a complaint submitted by a thirteen year old girl in 1994 against poor mr Trump? He forced her to do the oral sex thing. Later he raped her. Poor mr Trump is named as well as Epstein as the perps. Use you defender magic to scrape the stench off of that one Sal.
Evan,That was dismissed due to her lack of credibility. Something you should be familiar with, since it applies to you
dig deeper clark
Bravo Sal; Singh probably has her, it’s, them, he hair all in uh twisty cuz logic failed in the shallow diatribe, again and again.
The photo that Comey took contains 40 shells (I counted) which is just 6 short of 46 which, at 46, would have engaged a permeable spirit being to usher the intended recipient to death at a nondescript drowning canal. The fact that ALL of the shells were once living, breathing semi sentient beings with families and lifestyles and terrestrial ownership and community cohesion is lost on Trump and his dipshits. But what is really lost is that these shells represent DEATH and are a warning to mr Trump who ignores their visceral mass, which, sadly, is no longer present to express their sufferings and injustices.