April 28 (UPI) — Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on charges that he threatened President Donald Trump last year when he posted an image on Instagram that said “8647” in seashells on a beach, unnamed sources told media outlets Tuesday.
The sources reported the indictment to CNN, CNBC and The New York Times.
After the image was posted on May 15, Trump accused Comey of “calling for the assassination of the president.”
Comey denied he was threatening the president, writing in a follow-up post, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.”
He said he deleted it because “I oppose violence of any kind.”
The Justice Department eventually dropped the issue, but it has been revived.
The term “86” is slang meaning to cancel or dismiss something, and Trump’s second term makes him the 47th president. The phrase “8647” can be found on anti-Trump stickers and buttons.
After the post, the Secret Service questioned Comey for hours in Washington, D.C. Comey told them he had seen the shells on a beach in North Carolina.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard told Fox News that Comey should be “put behind bars for this” and that she was “very concerned” for Trump’s life.
It’s the second time Comey has been indicted since Trump took office last year. In November, a charge against him was dismissed because the appointment of interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who was prosecuting the case, was “invalid.”
Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor, was fired by the Justice Department last year without explanation. She is suing the department.
ACLU responds
On Tuesday afternoon, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released its reaction:
“Today, the Department of Justice indicted FBI Director James Comey for the second time in the last year. This indictment is the latest in a series of Trump administration actions targeting political opponents of the president, including an unsuccessful attempt to prosecute James Comey in November.”
Mike Zamore, ACLU national director for policy and government affairs, said the following:
“In a democracy, being critical of a leader does not get you thrown in jail. James Comey’s latest indictment is yet another example of President Trump abusing his power to target his perceived political opponents.
“The Trump administration has made it clear time and again: Appease the president or you will face the wrath of the federal government. Comey’s prosecution should severely trouble every American who values their freedom, no matter their political persuasion,” Zamore said.
“We’re witnessing the severe abuse and pressure-testing of our justice system. However, we remain confident that the American people and our institutions will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights, and this ham-handed attempt to intimidate and silence President Trump’s critics will fail.”
