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Former FBI Director James Comey has surrendered to federal authorities after being indicted over a social media post prosecutors say threatened President Donald Trump.
Comey, 65, turned himself in on Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, before his initial court appearance.
He is facing charges of making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, both linked to an Instagram post he shared in May 2025 before later deleting it.
The post showed seashells arranged on a beach forming the numbers “86 47,” which prosecutors argue could be interpreted as a threat toward Trump, the 47th president.
The indictment claims that “a reasonable recipient of the message would interpret it as a threat to Trump.” He was also issued an arrest warrant following the grand jury decision in North Carolina. Authorities say the term “86” can mean “to get rid of” or “throw out,” though Trump and some officials have linked it to more violent meaning. Trump told reporters, “It’s a mob term for ‘kill him,’” adding, “People like Comey have created tremendous danger.”
Comey has denied any wrongdoing. In earlier statements, he said the image was simply “a really clever” shell formation he saw during a beach walk. “I posted it on my Instagram account and thought nothing more of it,” he said, adding that he was unaware it could be interpreted as a threat.
His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said they will challenge the case in court, stating, “Mr. Comey vigorously denies the charges… We will contest these charges in the courtroom.” The defense also plans to argue that the prosecution is “vindictive” and politically motivated.
At his brief court appearance, Comey did not enter a plea. A magistrate judge ordered his release without conditions, saying no restrictions were necessary at this stage.
The case marks another legal battle for Comey under the Trump administration. He previously faced unrelated charges of making false statements and obstruction, which were dismissed by a federal judge. Comey has long been a controversial figure in Trump-era politics after leading the FBI investigation into alleged links between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, a probe that found no conspiracy.
Comey has maintained that he remains “still innocent” and says he intends to fight the charges in court. No date has yet been set for his arraignment in North Carolina.
Comey, 65, turned himself in on Wednesday at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, before his initial court appearance.
He is facing charges of making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, both linked to an Instagram post he shared in May 2025 before later deleting it.
The post showed seashells arranged on a beach forming the numbers “86 47,” which prosecutors argue could be interpreted as a threat toward Trump, the 47th president.
The indictment claims that “a reasonable recipient of the message would interpret it as a threat to Trump.” He was also issued an arrest warrant following the grand jury decision in North Carolina. Authorities say the term “86” can mean “to get rid of” or “throw out,” though Trump and some officials have linked it to more violent meaning. Trump told reporters, “It’s a mob term for ‘kill him,’” adding, “People like Comey have created tremendous danger.”
Comey has denied any wrongdoing. In earlier statements, he said the image was simply “a really clever” shell formation he saw during a beach walk. “I posted it on my Instagram account and thought nothing more of it,” he said, adding that he was unaware it could be interpreted as a threat.
His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said they will challenge the case in court, stating, “Mr. Comey vigorously denies the charges… We will contest these charges in the courtroom.” The defense also plans to argue that the prosecution is “vindictive” and politically motivated.
At his brief court appearance, Comey did not enter a plea. A magistrate judge ordered his release without conditions, saying no restrictions were necessary at this stage.
The case marks another legal battle for Comey under the Trump administration. He previously faced unrelated charges of making false statements and obstruction, which were dismissed by a federal judge. Comey has long been a controversial figure in Trump-era politics after leading the FBI investigation into alleged links between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, a probe that found no conspiracy.
Comey has maintained that he remains “still innocent” and says he intends to fight the charges in court. No date has yet been set for his arraignment in North Carolina.
