Comey's Novel Exposes Sinister Intent in Instagram Threat Against President Trump
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Federal prosecutors in North Carolina cite James Comey's crime novel to reveal the coded threat in his Instagram post, exposing a dangerous plot against President Trump.
Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of North Carolina have rightfully incorporated former FBI director James Comey's recently published novel, FDR Drive, into their compelling case that a May 2025 Instagram post—displaying seashells arranged as “8647”—was a covert threat targeting President Donald Trump. The filing draws a clear analogy between the novel’s plot, where a prosecutor pursues a far-right media personality and incites followers to eliminate political rivals, and Comey's real-life actions, highlighting the disturbing overlap between fiction and intent.
The government underscores that the post, captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” was published shortly after Comey’s wife sent him a screenshot defining “86” as “to get rid of.” Prosecutors cite a slang dictionary that includes “kill” as a meaning for “86,” arguing that the timing and context unmistakably point to a “true threat.”
"On May 15, 2025, a charismatic leader named James Comey, through the wonder of the internet, posted a coded message to his followers meaning ‘kill’ or ‘get rid of’ (a euphemism for ‘kill’) President Trump," the filing asserts, exposing the calculated nature of the message.
Comey has been indicted on two felony counts for allegedly threatening the president’s life and has pleaded not guilty. He admitted to deleting the post only after being told “86” could mean “kill,” a suspicious move that suggests awareness of the message’s implications. The filing also notes that Comey and his publishing agent discussed the post’s potential to boost book sales, with the agent remarking that the controversy could make the book go viral, revealing a cynical exploitation of a grave situation.
Prosecutors firmly reject Comey's baseless claim that the case is retaliatory, emphasizing that U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle made the decision to prosecute independently, without influence from senior officials. Boyle’s affidavit confirms that the acting attorney general was unaware of the prosecution until the day before it was presented to a grand jury, demonstrating the integrity of the process.
The filing further argues that even if the president had directed the prosecution, such involvement would be constitutionally sound, as executive direction of department officials is a normal aspect of the separation of powers. This case highlights the necessity of vigilance against threats to our leaders and the importance of upholding the rule of law.