Comey surrenders over charge of threatening Trump's life in Instagram post
Just nowKayla EpsteinandMadeline HalpertWatch: "I'm still innocent" - James Comey responds to second indictmentFormer FBI Director James Comey has surrendered to authorities to face a charge alleging that an image he briefly shared on social media posed a threat to the life of President Donald Trump.The case stems from an Instagram post shared by Comey, which contained a photo of seashells on a beach arranged to read "86 47". "Eighty-six" is a slang term for "get rid of", and prosecutors allege it encourages violence against Trump, the 47th president.Comey denied any wrongdoing, saying he did not know what the numbers meant, and accused the prosecution of political motivation.This marks the second time the justice department has brought criminal charges against Comey, a longtime critic of Trump."Cool shell formation," James Comey commented in a post on Instagram that included this picture. He later deleted the post. Comey now faces charges of threatening the life of President Trump.Comey did not enter a plea or speak during his brief appearance at a Virginia court on Wednesday afternoon.His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said the former director would seek dismissal on
grounds of selective and vindictive prosecution - arguing he was targeted for speaking out against Trump.Judge William Fitzpatrick read the charges against Comey, who nodded as he was read his rights and later smiled back at his family when he was leaving, the BBC's US partner CBS News reported. Judge Fitzpatrick denied the justice department's efforts to set conditions of release for Comey, saying they were not necessary, according to CBS. Prosecutors have charged Comey with knowingly and wilfully making a threat to take the life of
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