Donald Trump‘s Justice Department has indicted James Comey, accusing him of threatening the President’s life in an Instagram post, as a grand jury issues an arrest warrant for the ex-FBI boss.
The Justice Department says Comey ‘knowingly and willfully’ made threats against the President’s life and allegedly transmitted a threat via social media.
‘You cannot threaten to kill the President of the United States. Full stop,’ said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday at a press conference.
The indictment relates to an Instagram post Comey made last May featuring seashells arranged to spell out ‘8647’, a phrase adopted by Trump’s critics that the President and his allies have characterized as a call for his assassination.
The arrest warrant was issued by a grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina. It is unclear whether the DOJ requested the warrant as part of the initial indictment.
The number 86 is slang for removing or getting rid of something, though it can also mean to kill. Trump is the 47th President. Comey posted the photo with the caption: ‘Cool shell formation on my beach walk.’
Comey declared his innocence in a video message on Substack. ‘I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go,’ he said.
Trump’s allies claimed the post called for Trump’s assassination. Then-homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said the Secret Service would investigate the former FBI director.
I’ll kiss your butt in the middle of Times Square if he goes to jail for one day!!!
I agree 2:11, some people are above the law. I don’t care what hillary says.
Weak case, but fingers crossed.