Ex-FBI Director Comey indicted again, in a probe over an online post officials call a Trump threat

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted for a second time, this time related to a social media post featuring a photo of seashells. Officials allege the arrangement of seashells, marked with the numbers '86 47', constituted a threat against President Donald Trump. This case is the latest in what is described as the Trump administration's Justice Department's effort to prosecute political opponents. Comey had previously been fired by Trump while overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the two have openly feuded since. Comey stated he did not realize the numbers were associated with violence and that he opposes violence of any kind, leading him to remove the post. Despite this, he was interviewed by the Secret Service, and the indictment charges him with making a threat to Trump's life and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Comey's legal team has stated they will contest the charges and seek to vindicate him and the First Amendment. The indictment comes at a time when acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, a Trump loyalist, seeks to solidify his position. The term '86' is slang that can mean to kill, a meaning Trump asserted Comey was aware of. This is the second indictment against Comey; a previous one was dismissed due to the prosecutor's appointment. The Justice Department contends this case is similar to others they bring against less prominent individuals, aiming to rebut claims of selective prosecution.