Former FBI Director James Comey filed new motions late Tuesday asking a federal court to dismiss criminal charges accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump, pointing to a long history of personal and political hostility between the two men.
The federal indictment stems from a social media photo Comey posted showing seashells on a beach arranged to spell “86 47.” Federal prosecutors argue the image was a coded threat against the president.
Comey’s defense team claims the prosecution is selective and vindictive, describing it as the latest attempt by the administration to punish a prominent critic.
To support the argument, Comey’s attorneys attached a 76-page appendix detailing nine years of public disputes, social media posts, and insults exchanged between Trump, Comey, and top government officials since 2017.
The document lists dozens of public statements showing the bitter rhetoric between the two figures. Over the years, Trump frequently attacked Comey online and in media appearances, calling him a “proven LEAKER & LIAR,” a “weak and untruthful slime ball,” a “dirty cop,” and “the worst FBI Director in history.”
Comey’s quotes in the filing highlight his own sharp critiques of the president. In media interviews and book tours, Comey called Trump “morally unfit to be president,” compared his leadership style to a “New York mafia boss,” and labeled him “untethered to truth” and a “forest fire to our democracy.”
Along with requesting a complete dismissal based on political bias, Comey’s lawyers asked the judge to suppress evidence gathered from warrants on his personal accounts and to force the government to disclose grand jury proceedings.
Comey deleted the seashell photo shortly after posting it and denied any intent to encourage harm. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message,” Comey wrote on Instagram. “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
In a later video statement, Comey defended his record. “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system,” he said. “And I’m innocent.”
Trump and administration officials maintain the prosecution is standard law enforcement. In a Fox News interview, Trump insisted the post carried a clear message, saying, “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant… that meant assassination.” Trump added that “86” is common mob slang meaning to “kill him.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rejected allegations of political influence, telling reporters that federal prosecutors are simply handling “very serious crimes.” FBI Director Kash Patel stated that threats against the president are investigated thoroughly in coordination with the Secret Service.
The court has not yet ruled on Comey’s motions.
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