Overview
- James Comey surrendered to authorities in Virginia after a federal warrant in the case and was released on bond, with no North Carolina court date set yet.
- The grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned the indictment Tuesday, charging him with threatening the President and sending a threat across state lines.
- Prosecutors say a 2025 Instagram photo of seashells reading "86 47" was a coded call to eliminate the 47th president, while Comey deleted the post and denies any intent to threaten.
- The post drew Secret Service questioning and public calls for charges from Trump allies, including then Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
- An earlier, separate indictment from September was thrown out after a judge ruled the prosecutor was improperly appointed, which frames this new case as an unusual second prosecution of a former FBI director.