Former FBI Director James Comey Indicted Over Social Media Post
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The Justice Department has secured a grand jury indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. The case involves a photo he posted online last year showing seashells arranged to spell '8647', which some interpret as a threatening message. This follows the dismissal of previous charges against Comey last November.
Facts First
- A grand jury has indicted former FBI Director James Comey over a social media post showing seashells spelling '8647'.
- The specific charges are not yet clear, and the indictment was secured by a source not authorized to speak publicly.
- Administration officials stated in May they would investigate the post, which Comey has since taken down.
- Comey stated he did not realize some people associate the numbers with violence and assumed it was a political message.
- A previous DOJ attempt to indict Comey was dismissed in November due to an unlawful appointment of the acting U.S. attorney.
What Happened
The Justice Department has secured a grand jury indictment against former FBI Director James Comey. The case centers on a photo Comey posted online last year showing seashells on a beach arranged to spell '8647'. In old slang, '86' means 'get rid of', and '47' is seen by some as a reference to Donald Trump, who is the 45th and 47th president. Administration officials stated in May that they would investigate the post. Comey stated that he did not realize some people associate the numbers with violence, assumed the shells were a 'political message', and subsequently took the post down. It is unclear who created the shell formation.
This new indictment follows the dismissal of an earlier Department of Justice (DOJ) attempt to indict Comey in November. A federal judge dismissed those charges, which involved allegations of making false statements and obstructing justice regarding Comey's 2020 Senate testimony, after finding the acting U.S. attorney who secured them was unlawfully appointed. Those cases were dismissed without prejudice, allowing the Justice Department to bring them again.
Why this Matters to You
This development highlights the ongoing legal and political scrutiny of high-profile figures, which may influence public perceptions of justice and partisanship. For you, it underscores how seemingly minor actions, like a social media post, can trigger significant federal investigations. The case's outcome could set a precedent for how symbolic or ambiguous communications are interpreted under the law.
What's Next
The specific charges in the new indictment are not yet clear and will likely be made public as the case proceeds. The Justice Department may now move forward with this case, and it could also choose to re-file the previously dismissed charges. The legal process will determine whether the social media post constitutes a chargeable offense.