Former FBI Director James Comey made his first appearance in a Virginia federal court as part of a new criminal case involving allegations of threats against U.S. President Donald Trump. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
Details
As noted by his lawyer, Comey arrived at court in response to a grand jury indictment obtained by the Department of Justice. He was released without arrest, as prosecutors did not seek detention. A date for the arraignment hearing has not yet been set.
The new charges relate to a social media post featuring the numbers "86" and "47" arranged in seashells. Investigators believe this could be an allusion to a threat against the 47th President of the United States.
Second Indictment Attempt
The indictment marks the Justice Department's second attempt to hold Comey accountable. Previously, a court dismissed another case against him related to suspicions of providing false testimony to Congress.
Under the new charges, Comey is accused of threatening the president and transmitting such threats through interstate communications. Both counts carry a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.
Following the publication, Comey himself deleted the post and stated he had no intention of making a threat. Meanwhile, the case is unfolding against the backdrop of a long-standing conflict between him and Trump, who fired Comey during his first presidential term.