Former FBI Director James Comey faces federal indictment for the second time in eight months, as the Department of Justice filed new charges Tuesday connected to controversial social media posts from May 2025.
Second Indictment Following Judge’s Dismissal
The Justice Department indicted Comey in September 2025 on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding during the 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into Russian interference claims. A federal judge dismissed that case, ruling the prosecutor’s appointment violated constitutional requirements. The new charges appear to stem from different conduct, though the DOJ has not released full details of the current indictment.
Reports indicate the latest charges involve threatening communication made through social media in May 2025. Comey posted content referencing the number combination 86 47, which critics interpreted as a veiled threat against President Trump, who served as the 47th president. The former FBI director later claimed ignorance of the phrase’s meaning, despite his decades leading federal law enforcement.
BREAKING: James Comey has been indicted by a grand jury for his "8647" post from last year, just DAYS after yet ANOTHER assassination attempt on President Trump
MUCH deserved
This clown was dogwhistling for one of his deranged followers to take out President Trump.
LOCK HIM UP pic.twitter.com/zddy9NFFhl
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 28, 2026
Leadership Changes at Justice Department
The indictment comes after President Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her position in April 2026. Todd Blanche now serves as Acting United States Attorney General during the transition period. The timing of Comey’s indictment under new leadership raises questions about prosecutorial priorities and the independence of ongoing investigations. Legal experts note that threatening a sitting or former president constitutes a serious federal offense, regardless of the political context surrounding the case.
Background on Comey’s Public Role
Comey led the FBI from 2013 until President Trump fired him in May 2017. He subsequently became a prominent critic of the Trump administration, publishing books including A Higher Loyalty and appearing frequently in media interviews. His role in the 2016 election investigation and subsequent Russia collusion inquiry made him a polarizing figure in American politics. Comey has not yet publicly commented on the new indictment. His legal team has not announced whether they will challenge the charges on similar constitutional grounds as the previous case. The former director faces potential penalties that could include fines and imprisonment if convicted on the reported charges.
