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James Comey indicted over seashell photo

newsApr 28, 2026515,946

The Justice Department indicted former FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump by posting a social-media photo of seashells arranged to read '86 47'. Prosecutors say the image, captioned "cool shell formation on my beach walk," was posted and deleted within hours and formed the basis of a federal grand jury indictment in North Carolina, marking Comey's second federal indictment. The charge escalates legal exposure for a high-profile ex-official and will force courts to decide whether coded social-media posts qualify as criminal threats under the First Amendment.

Ron Filipkowski
@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

Trump’s mafia DOJ just indicted former FBI Director James Comey for posting a photo on Instagram of seashells on the beach. This is where we are at.

15773h ago
Steve39

Comey is a lawyer and he has representation. He needs to counter sue for a lot of money.

Democratic Free Press33

Police were tipped off 48 hrs ahead if time Explains why Trump brought no security To ensure it occurred

Me32

It’s a dumpster fire now. Anything to keep us less focused on the shit-show Iran war quagmire, the Epstein files, soaring fuel prices and soon to be shortages across all sectors.

Dr. Paula Bruno, Ph.D., L.Ac.22

I wonder if James Comey now regrets tanking HIilary's candidacy the way he did. The chickens certainly did come home to roost for him, didn't they? This is ridiculous but he did put a finger on the scale to derail the potential woman POTUS & I don't think many have forgotten that.

robodoggo.bsky.social20

all those Biden truck tailgate pics with him tied up now need to be charged, right? Asking for a friend, lmao

cushlacrem.bsky.social17

So…Comey posted sea shells that said 8647. And they indicted him. But Trump’s post during Binden’s admin of Biden hog tied in a truck…crickets!!! And all the Republicans sit on their hands and say nothing. THIS is why the ALL must be voted out in November!

Elliot Edelstein15

Meanwhile we have a convicted felon in the White House...go figure

Freddie Fan 🌊15

We’re witnessing the erosion of the First Amendment in real time. Apparently, comedians can’t tell jokes anymore, and the former FBI Director isn’t even free to post a picture of seashells he found on the beach.

Miss Led 🆘 🇺🇸8

Bezos is still selling them 😂

gigi5222.bsky.social8

Let the shell games begin!

DBeach7

They're gonna really hate this then...

Bathsheba in Blue7

Under the fascists, this is a crime:

Jack Diddly Squat - Distinguished Fellow6

How much are these ham sandwich lawsuits costing taxpayers?

603Lola 🐶🗳️💙🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️👠🙋🏻👩🏻‍⚖️6

James #Comey should sue the DOJ for political prosecution. $864.7 million should cover it.

Cookie Vargas6

I'm pretty sure this is why they re-indicted him www.nytimes.com/2026/04/28/n...

DragonFire6

But if he would have had Biden tied and gagged in the back of a pickup truck, people in a rifle scope, saying people should be shot or hung, that would have been ok. Democrats have different laws to follow than republicans

C. Allen5

Since we're indicting people for what they say now, how about indicting you-know-who for posting about wiping out an entire civilization. That seems more pointed. Inciting others to commit a war crime...

Bridgette Reed5

Such a petty vengeful old man. And stupid. So stupid.

MadGreek 🧿5

This is a joke? WTF? So the DOJ also has no sense of humor 😕

Predictive Stupidity5

Actual criminals run the government. And Schumer and Jeffriess are like "we'll just start fixing things in January." They just don't understand what is happening. Morons.

ReaderTabitha5

Trump has made the US look like a rogue state . Officials are punished for doing their jobs and even comedians are punished for doing their work too !

"Do Not Obey In Advance" and "Don't give into the Lies"4

🙄I'm going to assume they lied again to get the indictment.

Kevan Aponte3

We, the taxpayers, are paying for these sure to fail in court charges they keep bringing.

Steve3

Curious what they'll do about this...

David3

They indicted him because he exercised his right to free speech. cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/04/how-...

John E. Cook3

Comey has been asked multiple times over the years whether or not he regretted his actions during the 2016 presidential campaign. He's consistently said that he doesn't. I wonder if that's still the case. 🤔

@KeepItBlueDems.bsky.social3

Sheesh, grow up Trump & DOJ.

Kat K 🐾🐾2

I wonder if Comey has the self awareness to regret releasing bogus information about Hillary Clinton a week before the election of Trump 1.0.

Penguin2

Wait, they got a grand jury to return an indictment for that?

Ike552

Everyone to a person at DOJ will now and forever more be stained as a "Trump lawyer." Hope that pension is worth it.

Scott Rinear2

86 does not mean kill, you fucking idiots But you know what social media post does mean kill…

Christy Bressack2

My God. I'm old enough to remember when most people were sane. WTF y'all???

JFalter2

The fuck. I waited tables all through college. Every former server everywhere knows what “86” means. Here’s how you use it in a sentence: We are 86 tacos. It doesn’t not mean “kill the tacos” or “murder the tacos”.

Dermot Hennessy2

Priorities. Screw you all with your cost of living crisis.

harrbeni.bsky.social2

8647!!!!!! Please God, Please let them come indict me, NOW!!!

Goldie and Komos2

Comey is the 2016 equivalent of the Weimar industrialists and aristocrats who helped get Hitler into power, thinking he'd be easy to control. It didn't end well for them and guess what? Comey isn't an ally and he doesn't deserve it ending well for him, either.

vickithebest.bsky.social2

What did the seashells say ?

MeidasTouch
@meidastouch.com

The Trump DOJ reportedly indicted former FBI Director James Comey over his social media post featuring seashells forming the number "8647."

11113h ago
krdknight.bsky.social68

Another indictment that will embarrass the Trump DOJ

Steve57

They're welcome to come after me next...

Middlerage45

Do we have a First Amendment anymore???? 😡

gp2k.tikimail.org25

86 means you’re sold out of something. It doesn’t mean to kill something. Like, how could you “kill” the clam chowder? “The steak special has been killed?” Makes no sense

Sue in Rockville 💙🦋💙🦋💙🦋19

Ho-Hum, another day another humiliating defeat for the DOJ-formerly DOJ No surprise Blanche is Trump’s lawyer Critics dumbfounded by deranged' new court filing: 'Should be a major scandal' “It reads more like a Truth Social post dictated by Trump himself What an embarrassment

quacks-anonymous.bsky.social19

Glad we’re wasting time and resources on the really “important” things. 1st amendment free speech, lawsuit null, void and frivolous.

Aunt Tifa14

You have got to be kidding...such a waste of time $ & resources bc absolutely nothing is happening in the country

phillippropmgr.bsky.social10

I owned a bar restaurant, and when we 86'd someone, they were kicked out and barred from returning. Exactly what should happen to this piece of shit, inhuman Trump.

Midnight Blue9

50 years ago when I waited tables at Denny’s “86” was what we referred to as being out of something. Whatever it was the kitchen would say “86” and the item. We ALL knew it simply meant we had run out. Why they now seem to think it’s some sort of death threat is stupid.

tommy2legs67.bsky.social9

Error 404: crime not found

They Say9

Kimmel made a joke about 56 year old Melania’s much older husband making her a widow someday ... BEFORE the shooting. Is Trump a king now, and we cant joke about the fact that our unpopular, 80-year-old president will pass away someday? Melania is capitalizing on a joke, while Donald spews hate.

stopjd.bsky.social8

Yep. This ranks up there with the prosecution of the girl in Florida for a joke about Netanyahu.

Amanda Jo8

So surely Jack is next? 🙄

Serenity.Sue6

What a fucking thin skinned snowflake

m-a-j.bsky.social6

Simple answer. We all need to post the same!

David6

I don’t see that as threatening. Comey is just exercising his free speech. cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/04/how-...

Debby Williams 💙♐️6

That’s not going to send Comey to prison either. 🙄

Angele5

We have lost all sense of governance. Someone please stop the insanity.

603Lola 🐶🗳️💙🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️👠🙋🏻👩🏻‍⚖️5

I can't wait for the next DOJ to pay Comey $864.7 million for political prosecution.

ImnotApu5

Oh No! We are ALL in trouble if this is all it takes for an indictment....Most of the people on here post worse than this before lunch🦋💙✌️

Luca Migo ❌👑5

We all know Trump does not get along well with maths. 🥴

ScottinMarin5

Yet another clown show disgrace for the DOJ.

jofuslarue.bsky.social4

Seriously! How petty, how desperate, and how ridiculous can the DOJ be to serve up these pathetic attempts at retribution. Is anyone keeping an accounting for the amount of $ and employee hours being used that the taxpayer provides. Even the court system is being abused in this process.

oakidoaki.bsky.social4

Oh, yeah! It's being reported on MSN NOW now! I stand with Comey '8647!'

Colin Euwabidch4

Oh my godddddd 86 is a service industry slang for cancel. “86 those mozzarella sticks for table 47. They want boneless wings” He’s a fucking mozzarella stick.

PhyddleDD4

Guess I shouldn't be wearing my cap with the same message 😕

Cavalier Texan4

I get that math isn't Trump's strong suit, but he's gotta be a special kind of snowflake to feel like they threaten his life.

lgtrellis82.bsky.social3

Another desperate attempt for Todd Blanche to keep his job

Wall O'Bones🦴3

Sorry, art is protected free speech. Trump can get bent and nibble my ass youtu.be/o8jdzfHvCI8?...

Just_LookingK3

Are they gonna prosecute Bezos and other sites for the T-shirts & other merch featuring those numbers, too? 🤔 (Of course they won’t 😒)✌🏻

Matthew3

Has there ever been a man with thinner skin?

David Mitchell3

Maybe he hopes 47 will live to see 86? (I know, it ain’t convincing, but hopefully the jury will buy it)

yeoldeleftist.bsky.social3

What’s the statute of limitations?

Kris H3

Counter sue, Comey. Force Trump into discovery.

Dayle Ohlau3

…here’s mine. :) Bretagne, France.

Robertson Reynolds2

We lost the war, the chancellor of Germany is right, Iran is humiliating us And they're feeling that humiliation deeply Could get kinda crazy

TankerSpec2

Can't wait to hear the scathing rebuke from the judge that gets this case. 1st Amendment anyone?

BrandyPondSWO2

So we're reposting this, right?

Sally Newton2

Share this in support of Comey whom trump and extremists are taking to court again. Another weak and baseless attempt to get Comey to go to prison. 8647 = remove trump

Tony H2

Wonder who the lawyers are who decided to ruin their careers by working on this bullshit. Let’s make sure everyone knows who they are.

Rick Elston2

Yes! 8647 - I agree! By which I mean: get rid of him in his current capacity….but hoping that he lives for many more years in order to experience the ‘pleasure’ of living inside of his own depraved mind.

Kitty Kowalski2

He's just saying what 70% of us are thinking

Feathered Stone2

Save us the fake outrage bsky.app/profile/clac...

sifighter.bsky.social2

Are you fucking kidding me? For that!

Steve2

How we like this one?

The Cat Mother2

But didn’t they try to do this last year already? Isn’t Comey fighting in court to get this case dismissed?

Nürnberg steigt ab2

What's illegal about my phone number?

oasisthemepark2

The trump DOJ removed its Rule of Law foundation for the 34 count convicted felon. 86 meaning “to get rid of; to throw out. 47 potus trump The message I see is Get rid of or throw out trump. OTP vp

nancybern18.bsky.social2

It means ejection. Throw someone out of office or building 🤷‍♀️ I guess at least 79% of us will have to be indicted.

SoloSojourner2

Telling a domestic terrorist organization to “stand back and stand by” perfectly fine… A picture of sea shells at the beach, an indictable offense…

golfwidow.bsky.social2

Back in the day, I knew a guy who, when drunk, started fights in bars. He would get 86'd (ejected) from the bar. Never ever ever did the bartender or owner "kill" him.

Cream of Roper2

Everything is now an assassination attempt

Tim Wiese2

Oh thank God it wasn’t bullets arranged in that pattern. This will be thrown out of cour quickly. There is no threat there. Millions of things are posted daily on the internet that are more threatening than that. It’s freedom of speech. And Trump’s not a King and never will be.

Chris Geidner
@chrisgeidner.bsky.social

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted for placing seashells by the seashore. And for posting. Today's indictment: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
US DIA Mou, Jr., Clerk
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
Eastern District of NC
EASTERN DIVISION
NO. 4:26-CR-1-FL-RN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR.
The Grand Jury charges that:
INDICTMENT
COUNT ONE
On or about May 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the defendant, JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR, did knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States, in that he publicly posted a photograph on the internet social media site Instagram which depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making out "86 47", which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret
as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United
States.
In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 871(a).
4361h ago
Chris Geidner112

Even more tangential: Taking a picture of seashells by the seashore.

Bill Grueskin53

I'm pretty sure Comey has said he didn't arrange the seashells -- just took a photo of them after his wife pointed them out to him. And the indictment doesn't allege he did.

essequam.bsky.social17

Actually just taking a picture and posting it, per his retelling.

diannea.bsky.social14

In January 2022, Jack Posobiec, a conservative activist posted "86 46" on X, referring to former President Joe Biden. source: www.pbs.org/newshour/pol... hope defense gets the grand jury info in discovery

Violet Says Abolish ICE6

Wait didn’t 86 come from restaurants? Like for food they took off the menu or were out of? So they were inflicting bodily harm on, like, a Reuben? 🤣🤣

lethistle.bsky.social6

Can Trump get indicted again for posting a bullseye over a first lady?

gacyclist.bsky.social4

Literally pages of companies selling "96 46" stickers on Amazon www.amazon.com/Biden-Resist...

Moosedog664

#TrumpFucksKids EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN

Susan4

Not even placing them. Just taking a picture and sharing it.

Larry Williamson (L422Y)3

did he place them ??

Mortimer Jones III3

I mean. Fuck James Comey though.

Jefferson Smith3

Not to be fussy, but wasn’t it his claim that he came upon the seashells in that pattern?

Barb McQuade
@barbmcquade.bsky.social

These indictments are just getting kore absurd. Though Comey may be guilty of poor judgment, no jury will find that a photo of seashells constitutes a true threat. www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/p...

2932h ago
2 sources