Out of the Swamp: Comey Faces Arrest Warrant in NC After '86 47' Seashell Threat

We can now report some more specifics on the latest indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, this time over alleged threats against President Trump.

.@DAGToddBlanche: "Today, a grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment against James Comey on two counts."

Count one: Knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the… pic.twitter.com/lrJCHGysBI
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 28, 2026

The post reads in full:

"Today, a grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment against James Comey on two counts."
Count one: Knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States
Count two: Knowingly and willfully transmitting an interstate commerce of communication that contained a threat to kill the President of the United States
"It's fair to say that threatening the life of anybody is dangerous and potentially a crime; threatening the life of the President of the United States will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice."

A U.S. Department of Justice press release has more specifics:

The Indictment includes two counts, first in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871, alleging that James Comey, 65, knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States. This charge alleges that on May 15, 2025, by publicly posting an image over the internet via Instagram depicting “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.
The Indictment also charges Comey in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), that James Comey consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communication would be viewed as threatening violence, and that he knowingly transmitted a communication in interstate commerce that contained a threat to injure the person of another, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to a person.

Here's the interesting bit: The grand jury, which has also issued an arrest warrant for former Director Comey, is not in the D.C./Northern Virginia area this time, but in North Carolina, which is where Mr. Comey was when the alleged threat was issued. Now, consider what that means from a jury selection standpoint; the Swamp is wide and deep, and the Swamp looks after its own, but North Carolina is some distance from the Swamp, and much of the Eastern District is in areas that went strongly for President Trump in the 2024 election. Prosecutors on this matter may have a much easier time finding jurors whose hands aren't covered with Swamp mire.

Mr. Comey, if convicted, could face serious prison time:

James Comey is charged with Threatening the President in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) and Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

That's a maximum, mind you.

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After the announcement was made, during the brief question-and-answer session, an interesting point came up:

Q: "How will you prove intent when…Mr. Comey said he did not associate '86' with doing harm?"

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche: "How do you prove intent in any case? You prove intent with witnesses, with document, with the defendant himself." pic.twitter.com/I0OaKHQyuo
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 28, 2026

Here's what was said:

Question: Sir, how will you prove intent when, as the director had acknowledged, Mr. Comey said he did not associate “86” with doing harm, and he took it down promptly saying that was political speech, not an intent to do harm to the president?
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche: Well, this case is indicted today. This conduct occurred about a year ago, May 15th of last year. There has been a tremendous amount of investigation in this case. You prove intent with witnesses, documents, and the defendant himself — to an extent appropriate. That is how we will prove it in this case. I think talking about what Mr. Comey would or would not do if there was a trial… when it happens… it’s very premature for me today.

Those are matters, it would seem, to be hashed over during the trial, not just at the announcement of the indictment.

Prediction: The legacy media will cover this as though it is the worst kind of witch hunt. But in North Carolina, that may not help Mr. Comey much. It's a different ballgame this time around.

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