Todd Blanche indicts James Comey over alleged presidential threat
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 4
Todd Blanche indicts James Comey over alleged presidential threat
10 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 4
The case centres on Comey’s Instagram photo of shells arranged as “86 47”, posted after a North Carolina beach walk and investigated by the Secret Service, DHS and DOJ.
The opinion article says former Attorney General Pam Bondi had declined to charge Comey, and argues the revived case is legally weak because Comey neither arranged the shells nor made a true threat.
It says the indictment is aimed at pleasing President Donald Trump and could be dismissed before trial, while also exposing prosecutors involved to possible professional discipline.
Can photographing a message you didn't create be prosecuted as a threat to the president?
When does ambiguous slang posted online cross the legal line into a criminal threat?