Former FBI Director James Comey is asking a judge to throw out charges accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump, arguing his Instagram post of seashells did not amount to a 'true threat.'
Key facts
- James Comey is the former director of the FBI.
- He is charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump.
- The charge stems from an Instagram photo of seashells forming the message '86 47.'
- Comey has asked a judge to dismiss the case, citing a lack of a 'true threat.'
Former FBI Director James Comey has asked a judge to dismiss a criminal case accusing him of threatening to kill President Donald Trump, according to CNBC.
Comey is charged in connection with an Instagram photo he posted showing seashells arranged to form the message ’86 47,’ which prosecutors have treated as a threat against the president.
In his request to the court, Comey argues that the case should be thrown out because it lacks a ‘true threat,’ a legal standard that distinguishes genuine threats from protected speech.
The dispute centers on how the seashell image should be interpreted and whether it meets the threshold required to sustain the charge against the former FBI director.
As of the reporting by CNBC, the outcome of Comey’s dismissal request rests with the judge overseeing the case.
Why it matters
The case involves a former head of the FBI charged over a social media post targeting a sitting president, raising questions about where political expression ends and criminal threats begin. How the court applies the 'true threat' standard could shape the boundaries of protected speech in high-profile political disputes.
Frequently asked questions
What is James Comey charged with?
According to CNBC, Comey is charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump by posting an Instagram photo of seashells forming the message '86 47.'
Why is Comey asking for the case to be dismissed?
Comey has asked the judge to dismiss the case, citing a lack of a 'true threat.'
What was in the Instagram post at the center of the case?
The post showed seashells arranged to form the message '86 47.'