In a recent court filing, the DOJ contended that Comey's Instagram post could be seen as a coded message inciting violence against President Trump. The prosecutors referenced Comey's fictional work to draw parallels with a character who sends similar messages.
Comey's defense argues that the phrase '86 47' is a political slogan rather than a violent threat, emphasizing that '86' is commonly used in the restaurant industry to indicate that an item is no longer available. The DOJ's filing asserts that an objective observer could interpret the post as a call to 'kill' Trump, given that '47' refers to Trump as the 47th president.
This legal battle follows a previous indictment against Comey that was dismissed due to procedural issues. The ongoing case raises questions about the boundaries of political expression and the potential consequences for public figures who criticize political leaders