Former FBI Director James Comey has turned himself in to law enforcement in federal court for the Eastern District of Virginia, CNN reports. The official was taken into custody for his initial court appearance. The hearing began at 1:00 PM local time (7:00 PM Italian time).
Comey has been indicted for allegedly making death threats against Donald Trump. This is a shocking act of revenge by the tycoon against Obama's former boss, whom Trump himself confirmed in his first term.
Comey neither spoke nor pleaded guilty. Federal Judge William Fitzpatrick rejected the government's request to impose conditions on the official's release, calling it unnecessary. The accusation, which the defense attorney claims is based on "vindictive elements," centers on an Instagram post he posted showing a series of seashells forming the numbers "86 47," accompanied by the caption, "A curious seashell formation during my walk on the beach."
In restaurant jargon, the number "86" indicates the act of eliminating or permanently removing an item from the menu, while the "47" refers, according to the accusations, to Trump, who is the 47th president of the United States. "Eliminate Trump," then. The post immediately created a stir among Republicans, but no one could have imagined it would lead to Comey's second indictment.
Then-Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, announced that the former FBI director would be investigated for what she called incitement to "assassinate" the tycoon. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said he should be "sent to jail." The post was deleted shortly afterward, with the official apologizing, writing that he "didn't realize that some people associate those numbers with violence."
But a year and an attorney general later—many observers believe that Pam Bondi was fired by the president not only for the Epstein case but also for her lack of prosecution of his enemies—a North Carolina grand jury has issued an indictment on two counts. The first is for knowingly and intentionally threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm on the American president, while the second is for making that threat in another state.
The new US Attorney General, the tycoon's former lawyer Todd Blanche, stressed that although "the case is unique, and this indictment stands out because of the defendant's name, his alleged conduct is the kind we will never tolerate and will always investigate and prosecute."
There's no denying, however, that this acceleration is in line with the US president's mandate to take no prisoners among his enemies. Comey has loudly reiterated his innocence in this case as well, expressing his confidence that he will be exonerated in court. "I'm not afraid. And I continue to believe in the independence of the federal judiciary," he said in a video on Substack. "But it's crucial to remember that this is not how the Justice Department should operate." Just a few months ago, in September, he was accused of lying to Congress during a September 2020 hearing on Russiagate. In November, the case was dismissed by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Letitia James, whom Trump considers a bitter rival after she indicted him for tax fraud in New York.
(Unioneonline)
