Ex-FBI chief Comey charged with threatening Trump's life in Instagram post • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

Indictment: A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
"86": Restaurant industry slang meaning to remove, discard, or get rid of an item.
47th President: A reference to Donald Trump’s status as the 47th President of the United States.
Weaponization of the Justice System: The alleged use of legal and judicial processes by political figures to target or persecute opponents.
Interstate Transmission: The act of sending communications across state lines, which often elevates the jurisdiction of federal law enforcement.

The Indictment of James Comey

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on two federal charges following a social media post made on Instagram in May 2025. The charges include:

Making a threat to take the life of the US President.
Transmitting that threat via social media across state lines.

Each charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The Alleged "Secret Message"

The controversy centers on a specific social media post that Trump allies interpret as a coded call for assassination. The interpretation relies on two specific numerical references:

"86": Interpreted as the restaurant slang for "getting rid of" someone or something.
"47": Interpreted as a reference to Donald Trump, the 47th President.

Proponents of this theory argue that the combination of these numbers constitutes a veiled threat against the President’s life. Comey deleted the post shortly after it was published and has consistently denied any malicious intent or hidden meaning.

Legal and Political Perspectives

James Comey’s Defense

Comey maintains his innocence, stating, "Nothing has changed with me. I'm still innocent. I'm still not afraid." He has expressed continued faith in the independent federal judiciary while simultaneously criticizing the current state of the Department of Justice (DOJ). He characterized the indictment as a departure from American values, suggesting that the DOJ is being manipulated for political ends.

Political Backlash

Senator Dick Durbin (D) has emerged as a vocal defender of Comey, labeling the indictment as "baseless and petty retribution." Durbin’s argument is rooted in the historical context of Comey’s tenure as FBI Director, specifically his oversight of the investigation into alleged links between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. Durbin argues that the current administration is "weaponizing the justice system" to target political adversaries, framing the indictment as a retaliatory act rather than a legitimate legal proceeding.

Official Stance on Threats

The Department of Justice maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding threats against the President. Officials emphasized that while threatening any individual is a crime, threats against the President of the United States are treated with the highest level of severity and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Conclusion

The indictment of James Comey represents a significant escalation in the political tension between the former FBI Director and the current administration. While the DOJ views the social media post as a criminal threat, Comey and his supporters view the legal action as a politically motivated attack. The case highlights the ongoing debate regarding the independence of the Department of Justice and the boundaries of free speech versus criminal threats in the digital age.