Full Breakdown
Former FBI Director James Comey Charged Over Seashell Post; Mob-Lingo Claim Scrutinized
7/30/2026, 2:05:48 AM
Comey’s Threat Charge and the “86” Allegation
Federal prosecutors have indicted former FBI Director James Comey on two felonies for posting a photo of seashells arranged to read “86 47” on social media in May 2025. The indictment alleges the image constitutes a threat against President Donald Trump, the nation’s 47th president. To support the charge, the Justice Department consulted former Gambino crime-family underboss Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, who testified that “86” is mafia slang for killing.
Legal Background and Prior Indictments
Comey, who was dismissed as FBI director in 2017, faces this second prosecution since President Trump’s return to the White House in 2025. The first indictment, accusing Comey of lying to Congress, was dismissed in November after a judge ruled that the interim U.S. attorney who secured it, former Trump lawyer Lindsey Halligan, had been illegally appointed. Comey’s legal team argues that the current case reflects “vindictive and selective prosecution” driven by the president’s animus, citing government officials’ own statements as evidence.
Alleged Secret Service Phone Tracking
Court filings reveal that Secret Service agents discussed “pinging” Comey’s cellphone and requesting location data from Verizon under the pretext of an “emergency.” The filings also note that the surveillance continued while Comey and his wife visited the grave of their son, Colin, who died at nine days old in 1995 after a treatable bacterial infection was missed by medical staff—a tragedy Comey recounted in his 2018 memoir *A Higher Loyalty*.
Official Statements & Responses
A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the case, stating, “On the specifics here, we decline to comment.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “On the specifics here, we decline to comment.” — The Independent
