Blanche says it was ‘not just’ Comey’s ’86 47′ seashell post that led to indictment
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey was based on more than just his social media post featuring a seashell arrangement labeled '86 47.' The investigation spanned 11 months and included multiple factors beyond the controversial post, which some interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump. Blanche emphasized that while the post was part of the probe, the charges resulted from a broader set of facts and circumstances.
- ▪Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation into James Comey involved more than just his '86 47' seashell Instagram post.
- ▪The indictment was returned in late April 2026, following an 11-month investigation after the post was made in May 2025.
- ▪Blanche clarified that individuals are not indicted solely for using or wearing '86 47' merchandise, as the phrase has been widely circulated online.
- ▪The Department of Justice previously indicted Comey on unrelated charges involving alleged false statements about press leaks, but those were dismissed over legal technicalities.
- ▪Blanche noted that dozens of people have been charged this year with threatening President Trump, indicating the current case is not an isolated legal action.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said there was more to the investigation that led to former FBI Director James Comey’s indictment than just his “86 47” seashell social media post. “Rest assured that the career assistant United States attorneys in North Carolina, the career FBI agents, the career Secret Service agents that investigated this case didn’t just look at the Instagram post to walk away,” Blanche said. Recommended Stories Rubio’s old roommate convicted of covertly lobbying for Maduro’s Venezuela Secret Service director denies agent was wounded by friendly fire Apparent Epstein suicide note found by cellmate in 2019 The second indictment of Comey concerned a since-deleted post he made of a seashell arrangement on a beach that read “86 47” with the caption “Cool shell…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Washington Examiner
