James Comey appears in court after surrendering on charges of threatening President Trump
Updated
Updated · CNN · Apr 29
James Comey appears in court after surrendering on charges of threatening President Trump
15 articles · Updated · CNN · Apr 29
Comey was released without conditions after a brief hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, following his indictment for transmitting a threat in interstate commerce related to a '86 47' seashell photo.
No plea was entered, and his attorneys plan to argue selective and vindictive prosecution by the Justice Department. The case will move to federal court in New Bern, North Carolina, overseen by US Attorney Ellis Boyle.
This marks the second attempt by Trump’s Justice Department to charge Comey, following a dismissed case last year. Legal experts question whether the seashell post constitutes a punishable threat under First Amendment protections.
Will this case redefine the line between free speech and criminal threats online?
Could an ambiguous Instagram post of seashells lead to a lengthy prison sentence?
What does the history of the restaurant slang '86' mean for a federal prosecution?
How can courts prove the true intent behind a social media post using slang?