James Comey Seeks Dismissal of Seashell Indictment

Was prosecuting Comey a dangerous abuse of power or a legitimate move to demand scrutiny?

Published JUL 28

Comey Seeks Dismissal of '86 47' Threat Charges

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Above: Former FBI Director James Comey in New York City on May 19, 2025. Image credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The Spin

Democratic narrative

Prosecuting Comey over this photo is a politically motivated abuse of power with zero legal merit. The term '86' is standard restaurant slang meaning something is unavailable — not a call to violence. Without any direct statement of intent, this case is pure speculation dressed up as law enforcement, and a court needs to shut it down fast.

The New York Times

Mike Young on X

Republican narrative

Comey posted '86 47' on Instagram while a sitting president was traveling abroad — that's not a coincidence to be brushed off. Given prior assassination attempts against Trump, any credible signal from a high-profile former FBI director demands serious scrutiny. The Secret Service, White House and Director of National Intelligence all flagged this for concern.

Ava Brooks on X FOX News