Prosecutors hinge seashell post on Comey’s fiction in high-stakes threat case

North Carolina prosecutors argue that James Comey’s Instagram photo of seashells forming “8647” alongside references to his crime novel FDR Drive shows a “true threat” against President Trump. Comey, indicted on two felony counts, has pleaded not guilty; prosecutors say the context and the novel’s villainy support their case, while Comey contends the charges are not warranted and discusses potential misunderstandings around slang like “86.” The filing also emphasizes that the decision to prosecute rests with the U.S. attorney, not the President.