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The Department of Justice defends prosecution of James Comey for allegedly threatening President Trump with a seashell photo

The Department of Justice defended its criminal prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, asserting that his 2025 Instagram post of seashells arranged to read "8647" constitutes a "true threat" against President Trump. In court filings, prosecutors argued that an objective viewer would interpret the coded message as meaning "Kill President Trump," noting that "86" is a common slang term for "get rid of" or "kill." James Comey has pleaded not guilty, arguing that the post was protected speech and did not intend to convey violence. His legal team contends that the indictment is a result of vindictive prosecution by the administration, though the Department of Justice clarified that U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle made the decision independently. To bolster the case, prosecutors cited Comey's own novel, "FDR Drive," which features a protagonist who inspires followers to attack rivals, suggesting Comey acted as a charismatic leader sending coded messages. The administration maintains that the decision to indict Comey was a feature of the constitutional system, allowing the President to direct subordinates to exercise core Executive functions.

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