Acting Attorney General Blanche Announces Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former FBI Director James Comey for Threats to Harm President Trump

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment charging former FBI director James Comey with making threats to harm President Donald J. Trump. The Grand Jury charges that: 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). COUNT TWO On or about May 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the defendant, JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR, knowingly and willfully did transmit in interstate and foreign commerce a communication that contained a threat to kill the President, Donald J. Trump, specifically, by publicly posting 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 President Trump. In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c). FORFEITURE NOTICE Notice is hereby given that all right, title and interest m the property described herein is subject to forfeiture. Upon conviction of any offense charged herein constituting "specified unlawful activity" (as defined in 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(c)(7) and 1961(1)), or a conspiracy to commit such offense, the defendant shall forfeit to the United States, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(l)(C), as made applicable by 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c), any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the said offense. If any of the above-described forfeitable property, as a result of any act or omission of a defendant: cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence; has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party; has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court; has been substantially diminished in value; or has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty; it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), to seek forfeiture of any other property of said defendant up to the value of the forfeitable property described above.