Former FBI Director James Comey was charged in April 2026 in the Eastern District of North Carolina in connection with an Instagram photo of seashells arranged to read “86 47.” Prosecutors call the post a threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president. Comey has said it was not meant as a threat.
On May 26, U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan moved the trial to October 21, 2026.
On September 25, the trial was postponed again, to early 2027, and the arraignment was moved to January. The Justice Department did not object to the delay.
An earlier version of this article described the charges incorrectly. Comey faces threat-related charges, not charges for leaking information.
Sources: Reuters, NBC News, National Review
Editor’s note: This article was updated on October 17, 2026 to correct factual errors, including officials’ titles and event details, and to add source links.