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What does 8647 mean? Comey indicted over seashells Instagram post
Former FBI director James Comey was indicted in Virginia on charges tied to an Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to form the number 8647. The May 2025 post drew public criticism from then-President Trump, who accused Comey of threatening violence, while Comey denied any such intent. In September 2025 he was charged with obstruction and making a false statement to Congress, and a November 2025 ruling dropped the case after finding the prosecutor’s appointment illegal.
Why It Matters
The timeline shows how a social media post became the subject of federal charges and how legal actions unfolded amid a charged political climate.
Timeline
5 Events
Judge finds Halligan appointed illegally and drops the case
November 2025
A federal judge found that Halligan had been appointed illegally and dropped the criminal case against Comey.
Comey indicted in Virginia on obstruction and false statements to Congress
September 2025
About four months after the May 2025 post, Comey was charged in Virginia with one count each of obstruction and providing a false statement to Congress. The charges were brought by Lindsey Halligan, who at the time was the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; CNBC reported the charges allegedly include that the post threatened the president.
Comey issues follow-up denial after deleting the post
May 15, 2025
In a follow-up statement after deleting the post, Comey said he didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence and that he opposes violence of any kind.
Trump accuses Comey of calling for the assassination of the president
May 15, 2025
Trump publicly accused Comey of 'calling for the assassination of the president' in response to the May 15 post.
Comey posts seashells image forming 8647 on Instagram
May 15, 2025
Comey posted an Instagram image of seashells arranged to form the number 8647. The post prompted discussion of the meaning of 86 in slang and how combining 86 with 47 could be read as a message about violence.