Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche insisted Sunday that the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey rests on more than just an '8647' Instagram post, stating new evidence will be presented in court to support the government's claim that Comey's post amounted to a criminal threat against President Donald Trump. Blanche made the remarks during a 'Meet the Press' interview, where he was questioned about the case's credibility and potential political motivations.
The charges hinge on proving Comey's intent, a key legal threshold. Blanche emphasized that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will present broader evidence in court, rejecting claims the prosecution was driven by Trump's past clashes with Comey. 'You prove intent with witnesses, documents, and materials,' Blanche said. 'This is not just about a single Instagram post. This is about a body of evidence collected over about 11 months.'
The term '86' is slang for removing someone or something, often used in restaurants. Prosecutors allege that, paired with '47'—a reference to Trump as the 47th president—Comey's post constituted a threat. Blanche noted that threatening the president is a common criminal charge but clarified the DOJ does not prosecute everyday mentions of '8647,' such as paraphernalia sold on Amazon. He stressed that career prosecutors, FBI agents, and Secret Service agents investigated the case thoroughly.
Comey's attorney has stated that the former FBI director 'vigorously denies' the allegations and plans to contest the case in court.