DOJ Brings New Charges Against James Comey

Former FBI chief James Comey is once again facing federal charges, this time over a beach photo, the New York Times and the AP report. The Justice Department has obtained a new indictment of Comey tied to a social media post that showed an image of seashells spelling out "86 47" that was taken while he vacationed on the North Carolina coast, according to both outlets. The charge or charges have not yet been specified. Comey has said he saw "86" as slang for "remove" and denied any violent intent toward Trump, the 47th president. Trump allies argued the "86" referred to killing the president, prompting the Secret Service to interview Comey twice before the matter was initially dropped.

The latest case underscores the administration's persistent efforts to prosecute one of Trump's chief adversaries. A previous indictment accusing Comey of lying and obstructing a congressional probe was tossed in November after a judge ruled that Trump's handpicked prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan—a White House aide with no prior prosecutorial experience—was improperly appointed. The renewed push comes weeks after Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi amid dissatisfaction with her handling of high-profile matters involving his foes.