A federal judge has granted former FBI Director James Comey a delay in his criminal trial concerning allegations that he threatened President Donald Trump through a social media post featuring seashells arranged in the numbers "86 47." U.S. District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan rescheduled the trial to begin on October 21 in New Bern, North Carolina, after prosecutors did not oppose the request. The trial was originally set for July 15, and Comey's arraignment is now scheduled for September 30.
Comey's attorneys indicated plans to file multiple motions on constitutional grounds seeking dismissal of the case before the trial, with those motions expected to be submitted in July. A federal grand jury charged Comey in late April with threatening harm to the president and transmitting a threat across state lines, stemming from a May 2025 Instagram post showing seashells arranged to form the numbers "86 47." Trump allies have interpreted this phrase as a veiled threat against Trump.
The term "86" is slang originating from the restaurant industry, meaning to discard or remove something. Comey deleted the post following backlash and stated he did not realize the image could be interpreted as advocating violence. He has maintained his innocence and expressed confidence in the judicial process.
Critics of Trump argue that the prosecution reflects a broader effort to target perceived enemies, especially after a federal judge dismissed a separate indictment against Comey last year. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the prosecution, stating that threatening the President is not permissible under U.S. law. Comey may also face other legal challenges unrelated to the alleged threat against Trump, including a subpoena related to the Trump-Russia investigation.