Former FBI Director James Comey has asked a federal judge to dismiss the criminal charges stemming from his social media post that included a photograph of seashells arranged to spell ’86 47′, which some interpreted as a threat against President Donald Trump.

Background of the Case

The charges against Comey were filed in April after a federal grand jury indicted him on one count of threatening the President and one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. If convicted, Comey faces a maximum combined sentence of 10 years in prison.

Comey’s attorneys argue that the post, which included a photograph of seashells arranged on a North Carolina beach, was protected political speech rather than a ‘true threat’ against President Trump. They claim that ’86’ simply means ‘get rid of’ or ‘eject’ and has no violent connotation except in the most uncommon usages.

The defense also argues that no reasonable observer would interpret the phrase as a declaration that Comey personally intended to harm Trump. They claim that even an interpretation connecting ’86 47′ to violence would constitute political hyperbole protected by the First Amendment.

Reaction from the Trump Administration

The Trump administration has disputed Comey’s explanation, with President Trump stating that ‘a child knows what that meant’ and that it was a reference to assassination. FBI Director Kash Patel also stated that Comey ‘knew full well the attention and consequences of making such a post’.

The Justice Department has declined to discuss the evidence against Comey in detail, stating that ‘a grand jury indicted Comey, and he’ll have his day in court like any other defendant’.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.