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The Comey Indictment Has Already Backfired
James Comey has become a martyr because President Trump refuses to stop waging lawfare, writes Eli Lake. (Win McNamee via Getty Images)
The indictment says posting ‘86 47’ expressed ‘intent to do harm’ to the president. That’s a stretch, and the weak case will let Comey play the victim.
By Eli Lake
04.29.26 — U.S. Politics
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After its first indictment of James Comey was dismissed in November, the Justice Department is back for another round. This time they are charging the former FBI director with two counts related to threatening the life of the president.

That may sound like a grave accusation. But the actual “crime” described in the indictment is a joke. The indictment says Comey posted a photo on Instagram “which depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making out ‘86 47.’ ” The indictment then says a “reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”

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Eli Lake
Eli Lake is the host of Breaking History, a new history podcast from The Free Press. A veteran journalist with expertise in foreign affairs and national security, Eli has reported for Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, and Newsweek. With Breaking History, he brings his sharp analysis and storytelling skills to uncover the connections between today’s events and pivotal moments in the past.
Tags:
Free Speech
Law
Crime
Rule of Law
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