Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution has culminated in a federal indictment of James Comey, the former head of the FBI, over a social media post. The indictment, filed by the Justice Department in April 2026, charges Comey with making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding related to his 2020 testimony. The charges stem from a photo Comey posted on Instagram in May 2025, showing seashells arranged to spell “86 47,” which was interpreted as a threat to Trump, the 47th president.
Timeline of Conflict
The relationship between Donald Trump and James Comey has spanned a turbulent decade, beginning during the 2016 presidential campaign and continuing into Trump’s second presidency with repeated investigations and criminal charges. Comey oversaw inquiries that directly intersected with Trump’s political goals, first into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, and later into possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russia. Trump alternately criticized and praised Comey’s actions during the 2016 race, but once in office their exchanges grew increasingly tense, leading up to Comey’s dismissal in May 2017.
Key Events
- October 2015: Comey assured reporters FBI investigators examining Hillary Clinton’s private email server “don’t give a rip about politics.”
- July 2016: Comey announced no charges would be filed, but said Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless.” Trump’s campaign used the decision to argue the system was “rigged.”
- August 2016: At a rally, Trump urged appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Hillary Clinton’s crimes.
- October 2016: Comey informed Congress that new emails had surfaced and were under review. Trump and Republicans seized on the news as proof of Clinton’s “corruption.”
- November 2016: Comey said the review changed nothing. Trump dismissed the outcome, again calling the system “rigged.” Days later, Trump won the presidency.
- January 2017: At a White House reception, Trump hugged Comey, joking: “He’s become more famous than me.”
- March 2017: Comey publicly confirmed an FBI inquiry into possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. He promised it would continue “no matter how long that takes.”
- May 2017: Trump abruptly fired Comey, officially citing lost confidence and his handling of the Clinton case. Trump later said he would have fired Comey regardless of DoJ advice and called him a “nut job” to Russian officials.
- June 2017: Ahead of his Senate testimony, Comey stated Trump had sought “loyalty” and asked him to “let it go” in reference to the FBI’s investigation into Michael Flynn. Under oath, he said Trump lied about the FBI being in disarray.
- April 2018: In his book, Comey wrote: “This president is unethical, and untethered to truth and institutional values.” Trump lashed out online, calling him “Slippery James Comey” and “the WORST FBI Director in history.”
- December 2019: Comey admitted to being responsible for “real sloppiness” over the handling of surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser, but fiercely defended himself against any suggestion of political bias.
- September 2020: Senate Republicans summoned Comey to re-examine the Russia inquiry. He once again defended it, saying: “In the main, it was done by the book, it was appropriate and it was essential that it be done.”
- May 2025: After Trump’s return to the White House, Comey posted a photo of seashells spelling “86 47.” He later deleted it, saying he was unaware that the phrase had violent associations. The Secret Service interrogated him and weeks later surveillance teams tracked his car and phone.
- September 2025: A federal grand jury indicted Comey for making a false statement and obstructing a congressional proceeding. Career prosecutors objected to the indictment. Mark Warner said it is the latest sign that the president is making good on his promise “to turn our justice system into a weapon for punishing and silencing his critics.” Comey declared his innocence, saying: “We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.” Trump wrote on Truth Social: “JUSTICE IN AMERICA!” and added that he hopes “there will be others” who are prosecuted.
- November 2025: A federal judge ruled to invalidate the criminal indictments against Comey, along with those against Letitia James, taking issue with interim US attorney Lindsay Halligan, saying she had no lawful authority to indict. The statute of limitations on charges related to his congressional testimony subsequently expired.
- April 2026: The justice department filed new criminal charges against Comey on 28 April. Comey was charged over a picture he posted on Instagram last year in which seashells were arranged to say “86 47.” The post was taken as a threat to Trump.
The indictment has sparked controversy and debate over the politicization of the justice system, with critics arguing that it is a continuation of Trump’s campaign of retribution against his perceived enemies.
