Commentary
Regular readers will recognize that I am again devoting space to the subject of accountability. In the past four years, I have written eight pieces on the subject, naming individuals, like Hillary Clinton, James Comey and John Brennan, all guilty of an illegal act, but known for avoiding punishment, so far. The wheels of justice turn slowly.
Last week, the indictment of former FBI Director Comey was in the news again as the Department of Justice defended its prosecution of him for his posting of a photo of seashells in the numerical arrangement of “8647”, indicating he found them while walking on the beach in May 2025.
Federal prosecutors maintain that the photo of the seashells, constituted a threat against President Trump. Comey deleted the post shortly after he put it up, saying he did not know that anyone interpreted the numbers as a call to violence.
Reportedly, it was Comey’s wife, Patrice, who suggested he post a photo of the seashells on Instagram, but later, after discovering the meaning of “8647”, recommended its removal.
It was suggested that his May 2025 post on Instagram was an effort to generate attention for a forthcoming novel about a social media personality whose words inspire his fans to attack his foes.
“The evidence still supports that the defendant acted at least recklessly by consciously disregarding a substantial risk that his coded message of “8647” that he sent to his 200,000 or so Instagram followers, and the millions of secondary social media users who would view this as threatening violence against the President of the United States,” prosecutors added.
Comey’s lawyers have called the indictment, which was filed months after an earlier and unrelated case against him was dismissed, on the grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.
Yes, the wheel of justice turn slowly, but Comey, who was indicted by a North Carolina grand jury on April 28, 2026, is scheduled to go to trial there on October 21, 2026
Count One alleges Comey knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the president’s life or inflict bodily harm. The count says a recipient familiar with the circumstances would understand the photograph as a serious expression of intent to harm the president.
Count Two alleges he knowingly and willfully transmitted an interstate communication containing a threat to kill President Trump.
The controversy got even more interesting when it is believed that a “relative” sent a blistering text to Patrice saying she could no longer hold her tongue, calling her husband an “absolute coward,” and referring to the couple as “the least accepting, most hypocritical people I’ve had the displeasure of knowing,” adding, “I hope Jim goes to jail for his crimes.”
May the pompous James Comey be finally held accountable and punished appropriately.
