James Comey Seeks Dismissal of Seashell Indictment
Was prosecuting Comey a dangerous abuse of power or a legitimate move to demand scrutiny?
Above: Former FBI Director James Comey in New York City on May 19, 2025. Image credit: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Prosecuting Comey over this photo is a politically motivated abuse of power with zero legal merit. The term '86' is standard restaurant slang meaning something is unavailable — not a call to violence. Without any direct statement of intent, this case is pure speculation dressed up as law enforcement, and a court needs to shut it down fast.
Republican narrative
Comey posted '86 47' on Instagram while a sitting president was traveling abroad — that's not a coincidence to be brushed off. Given prior assassination attempts against Trump, any credible signal from a high-profile former FBI director demands serious scrutiny. The Secret Service, White House and Director of National Intelligence all flagged this for concern.
