Washington, D.C. – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey on Sunday, emphasizing that the case involves more than just the Instagram post at the heart of the controversy.
Blanche, in an appearance on NBC News’ Meet the Press, explained that the indictment is based on a broad set of evidence collected over an 11-month period, which was presented to a grand jury.
Blanche Responds to Critics
Blanche was careful not to disclose specific details of the evidence, but he assured the public that the case would be fully aired in a public trial. “At the trial — a public trial that will be open to the public — everybody in this country will know exactly what evidence the government has against Mr. Comey,” Blanche said.
The indictment stems from an Instagram post in which Comey shared a photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” Critics, including President Donald Trump, have claimed that the numbers were a coded reference to a mob term for “kill him,” which Trump has linked to a threat against his life.
Trump’s Reaction and the “86” Controversy
President Trump, when asked about the post, indicated that he believed the numbers were a threat. “If anybody knows anything about crime, they know 86 — you know what 86 — it’s a mob term for kill him,” Trump said.
However, restaurant workers and some lawmakers have cast doubt on this interpretation. Restaurant employees told NBC News that “86” is a common term in the industry and has no violent connotations.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) also criticized the case, questioning how a photo of seashells on a beach could lead to an indictment. “I can’t find any evidence, except some that’s come up after the president made the comment about the movies,” Tillis told CNN. “I can’t find any evidence where ‘86’ is used as a call for violence.”
Blanche Defends the Broader Indictment
Despite the skepticism surrounding the meaning of “86,” Blanche maintained that the indictment was not solely based on the Instagram post.
He emphasized that there is “evidence of all sorts” against Comey and reiterated that the government has investigated a wide range of threats against President Trump, many of which did not lead to indictments.
“Every one of those statements do not result in indictments,” he explained. “Of course there are facts, there are circumstances, there are investigations that have to take place, and we have charged dozens and dozens of men and women this year with threatening President Trump and others.”
Senator Adam Schiff Criticizes the Focus on Comey
Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) criticized the Justice Department’s focus on the case, accusing Blanche of pursuing the indictment for political reasons.
“The only facts that distinguish this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to public,” Schiff said, referring to the widespread presence of “86 47” merchandise online. “It’s the fact that James Comey is a political opponent of the president’s.”
Schiff also lambasted the attention given to the case, arguing that the Department of Justice should be focused on more pressing issues, like violent crime and child trafficking. “The fact that we’re spending time on a seashells case… means they’re not focused on rape cases and child trafficking,” Schiff said.
A Divided Legal Landscape
Blanche’s actions in securing the indictment have reportedly pleased President Trump, who appointed him to lead the Justice Department after firing Attorney General Pam Bondi.
This is not the first time Comey has been the subject of legal action; last year, prosecutors sought criminal indictments against both Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, but those cases were dismissed by a federal judge due to issues with the appointment of the prosecutor.
Blanche explained that the dismissed case had no bearing on the current indictment, describing the earlier case as “apples to oranges.” He noted that the dismissal was based on procedural issues, not a finding that Trump had done anything wrong.
Ongoing Investigations and Future Proceedings
In addition to the indictment, Comey was subpoenaed as part of a broader probe into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. As the legal battles surrounding Comey continue, all eyes are on the upcoming trial, where the full scope of the evidence against him will be revealed to the public.
As the situation develops, the public and legal communities will closely watch how the case unfolds and whether it will serve as a prelude to further political and legal tensions between Comey, Trump, and their respective allies.
