Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by the Department of Justice for a second time, according to multiple outlets including Fox and the New York Times. The indictment reportedly stems from a social media post by Comey that featured seashells arranged to display '8647,' a combination some Republicans interpreted as a threat against President Trump.
The exact charges have not been made public, and the indictment itself was not immediately available. This marks the latest legal action against Comey, who has been a persistent critic of the Trump administration.
The Justice Department previously sought to indict Comey for allegedly lying to Congress in 2020, but that prosecution collapsed. The new case centers on a different set of allegations, specifically concerning a social media post that was published months ago.
Legal experts note that prosecuting speech-related cases can face significant First Amendment hurdles. The interpretation of the seashell arrangement as a threat will likely be a central point of contention, should the case proceed to trial.
Comey has not yet publicly commented on the indictment. His legal team is expected to challenge the charges, arguing that the social media post was protected political commentary, not a genuine threat.