Former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey, has been indicted over an alleged threat to the life of United States President, Donald Trump, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The development comes months after an earlier case against the former FBI boss was dismissed.
According to officials, the fresh indictment—filed by a grand jury in North Carolina—stems from an Instagram post made by Comey in May last year, which featured the numbers “86 47” arranged with seashells.
Trump had claimed at the time that the figures carried a violent connotation, alleging that “86” signified an intent to kill, while “47” referred to his position as the 47th President of the United States.
Responding to the charges, Comey dismissed the allegations and insisted on his innocence, vowing to challenge the case in court.
In a video shared on social media, he described the prosecution as unwarranted, maintaining that the post had no violent intent.
Court documents, however, alleged that the message constituted a serious expression of intent to harm the President.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Comey was facing two counts, including making a threat against the life of the President and issuing an interstate threat. Each of the charges carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Blanche stressed that threats against any individual, particularly the President, would not be tolerated.
Comey had earlier apologised for the post, stating that he was unaware of any violent interpretation associated with the numbers and had subsequently deleted it.
The indictment comes amid heightened political tensions in the United States, following the recent arrest of a gunman accused of attempting to attack Trump at an event in Washington.
The former FBI director had previously faced separate charges related to alleged false statements and obstruction of Congress, which were later dismissed by a federal judge.
The latest development has drawn criticism from some lawmakers, who described the prosecution as politically motivated.
Comey, who was appointed FBI Director in 2013, was dismissed by Trump in 2017 during investigations into alleged interference in the 2016 US election.
Observers say the case adds to a series of legal actions involving individuals perceived to be political opponents of the President.
