James Comey Claims Seashells Post Was Protected Political Speech

Former FBI director James Comey is fighting federal charges that he threatened President Donald Trump's life by posting a photo of seashells arranged to read "86 47" on Instagram. Comey's lawyers argue the image is protected political speech, not a "true threat," and that the government is singling him out as a prominent Trump critic. The slogan "86 47" has long meant "get rid of" or "eject" and has been widely used on merchandise and at protests. This case is the second against Comey; an earlier charge of lying to Congress was dismissed in November 2024. The prosecution is part of a broader retribution campaign by the Trump administration Justice Department against the president's adversaries.