The indictment concerns a photo posted on Instagram last year. He turns himself in in Virginia, then is released: “I’m innocent, this is not the way the Department of Justice should operate.” In September he had already been indicted for investigating Russiagate
Former FBI director James Comey turned himself in in Virginia after an arrest warrant was issued against him on charges of making “death threats” Donald Trump with a post on social media. Comey – who was quickly released on bail – had been appointed by Barack Obama as head of the FBI and confirmed by the tycoon during his first term. This is an unprecedented event for a former head of the Bureau.
Comey’s indictment is the second by the Trump administration after that in September for having investigated the US president as part of the Russiagate.
In this latest case that led to the arrest warrant, the charges relate to a photo from last year posted by the former FBI chief on Instagramwhile on vacation on the North Carolina coast, in which a series of shells to form the numbers «86 47»accompanied by the writing «a curious formation of shells during my walk on the beach»: the number 86 indicates the act of eliminating or getting rid of someone permanentlyin a slang expression, while 47 would refer to the 47th President of the United StatesDonald Trump.
The post, then canceled by Comey with the justification of “not realizing that some people associate those numbers with violence” and of being “against violence of any kind”, it was interpreted by the Republicans as a threat against the tycoon. The then secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noemhad announced that the former FBI chief would be the subject of an investigation for what she had defined as incitement “to the assassination” of the tycoon.
The indictment against Comey was formalized by acting Justice Secretary Todd Blanch in a press conference: «Today, a Grand Jury of the Eastern District of North Carolina issued an indictment against James Comey on two counts» announced Blanche, specifying that the first charge is knowingly and willingly threatening «to kill and inflict physical injury» on the American president, while the second is «knowingly and voluntarily transmitting an interstate communication containing a death threat» to the American president.
“It is fair to say that threatening the life of anyone is dangerous and potentially a crime: threatening the life of the President of the United States will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice,” added Blanche, providing details of the indictment anticipated by the CNN. The minister recalled that although “the case is unique, and this indictment stands out due to the name of the accused, his alleged conduct is of the same kind that we will never tolerate and that we will always investigate and prosecute”.
Comey, in a video published on Substack, said in recent hours that he was confident that he will be exonerated in court: «It won’t end here. However, as far as I’m concerned, nothing has changed. I’m still innocent. I’m not afraid yet. And I continue to believe in the independence of the federal judiciary – said the former head of the Bureau -. But it’s crucial that we all remember one thing: This is not the way the Department of Justice should operate. The good news is that, day after day, we are getting closer and closer to restoring those values. Don’t lose hope.”
