Former FBI director James Comey, designated target of Donald Trump, presented himself Wednesday to the federal authorities, who indicted him the day before for having threatened "the life and physical integrity" of the American president.
James Comey, 65, is now facing two charges for a photo of shells published on social networks in May 2025 and interpreted by the Trump administration as a "threat" towards the president.
In this photo, subsequently removed, shells formed the message "86 47" in the sand, the first number sometimes being used to mean the wish to drive away, or even kill, someone, the second possibly referring to Donald Trump, 47th President of the United States.
James Comey appeared at the federal court in Alexandria, near the capital Washington, and attended a very brief hearing, from which he emerged free, report the American media.
Donald Trump fired his Minister of Justice Pam Bondi at the beginning of April, following in particular a series of pitiful failures by his ministry to criminally pursue targets expressly designated by him, including James Comey. He appointed Todd Blanche, until then number 2 in the ministry, who is also one of his former personal lawyers, to fill this strategic position.
“This does not mean that every time this number is published, or every time there is a threat against the president, that this will necessarily result in an indictment,” Mr. Blanche said on Wednesday, in response to a question on the fact that anyone publishing the number “86 47” would expose themselves to a criminal charge. investigation, or even criminal prosecution.
“It depends on the investigation, it depends on all kinds of factors,” he added during a press briefing at the Ministry of Justice. “People should be careful not to threaten the life of President Trump, because it is an offense, period,” he nevertheless warned.
James Comey proclaimed his innocence on Tuesday, saying he was "still not afraid."
This is the second time that federal prosecutors have gone after this nemesis of Donald Trump. The previous criminal proceedings against him were canceled in November.
James Comey - brutally fired by Donald Trump in 2017 while the FBI was investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign - was in this first procedure accused of having lied under oath.
The new indictment was unveiled Tuesday, three days after an alleged assassination attempt against Donald Trump, and announced by Todd Blanche, acting Minister of Justice.
An influential Democratic senator denounced on Tuesday a “Ministry of Justice used on behalf of a vengeful president”.
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