Indictment of Former FBI Director James Comey Linked to Instagram Post
A federal grand jury has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for posting an image of a seashell on Instagram. This act was perceived as a threat by allies of former President Donald Trump, according to two sources familiar with the proceedings who spoke to NBC News.
Legal Actions in North Carolina
The Justice Department is pursuing this case in the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Comey owns a beach house. The Department of Homeland Security initially investigated Comey, a frequent target of Trump, following the Instagram post from May 2025. As part of the investigation, Comey was also questioned by Secret Service agents.
Context of the Controversial Post
Comey deleted the post shortly after it was made, claiming he did not intend for it to be interpreted as violent. The term “Hachisoroku,” often used in restaurants to indicate that a product is sold out, can also informally imply “cancellation” or “disposal.”
Political Reactions and Interpretation
In a subsequent Instagram post, Comey expressed that he believed the seashells he collected during a beach walk conveyed a “political message.” He asserted that he “didn’t realize” some might associate this imagery with violence, emphasizing his opposition to any form of violence.
Response from Trump Administration Officials
Officials from the Trump administration quickly denounced Comey’s actions. Kristi Noem, the then-Secretary of Homeland Security, highlighted that Secret Service officials had interviewed Comey, labeling him as a “disgraced” former FBI director. Additionally, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence at the time, publicly stated that Comey “should be in jail for this.”
Previous Indictments and Legal Troubles
This is not the first time Comey has faced legal scrutiny. Previously, he was indicted on charges of lying to Congress five years ago, but those charges were dismissed due to a judge’s ruling that the prosecutor involved was appointed unlawfully. Recently, Comey was indicted again on allegations of lying to Congress and obstructing a Congressional investigation, with the Justice Department initiating the indictment just before the statute of limitations expired.
Broader Implications and Trump’s Discontent
The original case against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James was dismissed based on claims surrounding the unlawful appointment of an interim U.S. attorney. Prosecutors only need to establish a minimal probable cause standard when seeking an indictment from a federal grand jury, which differs significantly from the higher burden of proof required for a trial conviction.
Former President Trump had called for legal action against Comey as early as 2017. After firing Comey—who had been a lifelong Republican—Trump became increasingly frustrated, setting off a chain of events that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, a point that has continued to fuel Trump’s grievances.
