Former FBI Director James Comey is tentatively set to face trial on July 15 on expenses that he allegedly threatened to kill President Donald Trump by posting a photograph of seashells spelling out “86 47” on a seaside.
In a written order issued Friday, U.S. District Choose Louise Flanagan scheduled the trial to start on July 15.
After his courtroom look in North Carolina that was initially set for Monday was canceled, Comey can be arraigned on June 30.
Comey’s legal professionals have previewed that they plan to maneuver to dismiss the case. His pretrial convention is scheduled to happen on or earlier than Might 29.
Renewing efforts to prosecute considered one of Trump’s longtime adversaries, Division of Justice prosecutors introduced the case after a choose final 12 months threw out an indictment in opposition to Comey on unrelated expenses.
The brand new indictment facilities on an argument that erupted practically a 12 months in the past when Comey, in a since-deleted Instagram post, shared an image displaying the numbers “86 47” written in seashells with the caption “Cool shell formation on my seaside stroll.”
James Comey speaks onstage throughout Former FBI Director James Comey In Dialog With MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace at 92NY on Might 30, 2023 in New York Metropolis.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Photos
Citing the slang which means of “86” as to “nix” or “get rid” of one thing, allies of the president allege that the publish was a veiled menace in opposition to Trump, who’s the forty seventh president.
Following backlash over the publish, Comey eliminated the picture from Instagram and stated he was unaware that the publish might be related to violence.
“I posted earlier an image of some shells I noticed as we speak on a seaside stroll, which I assumed had been a political message. I did not understand some people affiliate these numbers with violence. It by no means occurred to me however I oppose violence of any variety so I took the publish down,” Comey posted.
