FBI Director James Comey waits before testifying at a House Intelligence Committee hearing into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
(Washington, DC) – Former FBI Director James Comey surrendered to federal authorities on Wednesday and made a brief initial court appearance in Alexandria, Virginia, following charges tied to an alleged threat against President Donald Trump.
Comey was placed under arrest before appearing in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes, and he did not enter a plea. A judge allowed him to be released without conditions.
Prosecutors have charged Comey with making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, according to court documents. The case stems from a social media post he made in May featuring seashells arranged to display the numbers “86 47,” which critics argued could be interpreted as a threat toward Trump, the 47th president.
Comey has denied wrongdoing. In a video posted Tuesday, he said he remains “still innocent.”
His legal team signaled plans to challenge the case, telling the court they intend to file motions accusing the Justice Department of selective and vindictive prosecution.
Although the charges were filed in North Carolina, Comey’s first appearance took place in Virginia. The case is expected to proceed in federal court in New Bern, North Carolina, though no arraignment date has been set.
The prosecution comes amid broader political tensions, as Trump has pushed for investigations into perceived adversaries, including Comey, who has long been a target of the former president’s criticism.
Legal experts have raised questions about the strength of the case. Eugene Volokh, a First Amendment specialist at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, said the post is unlikely to meet the legal threshold for a criminal threat.
This marks the second time Trump’s Justice Department has brought charges against Comey. A previous case accusing him of lying to Congress over media leaks was dismissed by a federal judge, who ruled that the prosecutor had been improperly appointed without Senate confirmation.
