The Department of Justice (DOJ) is defending its prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, asserting that a social media post featuring seashells could be interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump. Prosecutors questioned Comey's claim that he discovered the seashells arranged in the numbers '86 47' while walking on a North Carolina beach, suggesting that the post was intended to draw attention to an upcoming novel.
The DOJ's arguments were presented in motions filed in response to defense efforts to dismiss the case, which include claims of vindictive prosecution and assertions that Comey's post did not constitute a true threat. Comey's legal team contends that investigators misled judges and failed to prove that Comey intended to convey a physical threat.
The DOJ maintains that the post could be read as a serious threat, referencing previous assassination attempts against Trump. Prosecutors noted that Comey deleted the post shortly after publishing it and that his wife had sent him a definition of '86' shortly before the post was made. The post was published just before the release of Comey's novel, which features a character that inspires violence against adversaries.
Comey has characterized the case as vindictive, while the DOJ denies any allegations of vindictiveness, stating that the decision to indict was made independently by the U.S. attorney. The defense argues that investigators lacked compelling evidence that Comey intended the post as a threat, and they claim that this was not disclosed to federal magistrates during warrant applications.