Fact Check: James Comey Indicted Over Instagram ‘8647’ Seashell Post – What the Charges Really Mean

TL;DR: James Comey was indeed indicted on federal charges for an Instagram post showing seashells spelling “8647,” each count carries a maximum of ten years in prison, but the claim that the “47” in the post refers to Trump being the 47th president is false.

Claim 1: James Comey was indicted on federal charges for posting an Instagram image of seashells spelling "8647". Evidence: Federal prosecutors secured a grand‑jury indictment charging Comey with threatening President Trump by posting a photo of seashells arranged to spell “86 47,” as reported by CNBC and other reputable outlets. Verdict: True. Analysis: The indictment is documented by multiple news sources and alleges a "serious expression of intent to do harm," confirming the claim’s accuracy.

Claim 2: The indictment against James Comey includes a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. Evidence: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated each count in the indictment carries a statutory maximum sentence of ten years, a figure confirmed by multiple news reports. Verdict: True. Analysis: Federal statutes for threatening the President and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce each allow up to ten years, so the penalty claim is correct.

Claim 3: The number 47 in the “8647” seashell image refers to Donald Trump being the 47th president of the United States, inaugurated in January 2025. Evidence: Official U.S. government records list Donald Trump as the 45th president (2017‑2021); he is not the 47th president, and no credible source supports a 47th‑president claim for him. Verdict: False. Analysis: While some Trump supporters use “47” as a shorthand for Trump, it does not denote an ordinal presidency; the claim misstates historical fact.

Watch for Comey’s arraignment and any pre‑trial motions as the case proceeds in federal court.