‘This is not just about a single Instagram post’: Trump’s acting AG says the Comey seashell case has 11 months of evidence nobody has seen yet

His answer was telling…

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made a bold statement about the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey in an interview on NBC‘s Meet the Press. According to Blanche, the indictment goes far beyond a single Instagram post of seashells arranged to read “86 47,” which has been at the center of the controversy. Blanche was firm in his position, pushing back against the idea that the case rests on one social media post alone.

Blanche insisted that the indictment is based on evidence collected over 11 months, not just the single post. When NBC’s Kristen Welker pressed him about the specific nature of this evidence, Blanche said he couldn’t disclose it yet, but assured that it would be revealed at trial, which he emphasized would be a public one, giving everyone the chance to see the full picture, reports Mediaite.

President Donald Trump also weighed in, stating that he “probably” felt threatened by Comey’s post. Trump explained that the term “86” is a mob term for “kill him,” though some critics have disputed this. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., cast doubt on the idea that “86” is inherently violent, pointing out that it is simply a term used in everyday language and does not automatically carry a threatening meaning.

The Comey indictment raises serious questions about Justice Department priorities and political motivations

Blanche emphasized that the Justice Department has “evidence of all sorts” against Comey, and that the indictment goes beyond just the number “86 47,” which appears frequently on social media and in online shops across the internet. He also claimed that the previously dismissed indictment against Comey is unrelated to this case, saying that comparing the two would be like comparing “apples to oranges.”

Blanche noted that the federal judge who dismissed the previous case did so not because of any factual finding, but because the prosecutor who indicted Comey was not lawfully appointed to the role. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., raised questions about the motivations behind the indictment. 

Schiff pointed out that the widespread presence of “86 47” merchandise online does not make the case against Comey any stronger, and suggested that the real issue is political, specifically, that Comey is a political opponent of President Trump. This is not the first time the Trump administration has faced criticism over decisions that many see as politically driven, as seen in debates over Trump’s passport redesign decisions.

Schiff also criticized Blanche’s focus on the case, saying that it is distracting from more pressing issues like violent crime and child trafficking. The comments highlight an ongoing debate about whether the Justice Department is truly committed to upholding justice or is acting on political motivations rather than legal ones. Many observers say the case reflects a broader pattern of the current administration using legal tools against political opponents.

Blanche stated that the American people will know exactly what evidence the government has against Comey at trial. Observers have noted that the Trump administration often avoids making its true reasoning public on controversial matters, much like why the White House is keeping RFK Jr. around. 

The former FBI director was also subpoenaed in a wide-ranging probe led by the Trump administration related to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The trial is still months away, and the Justice Department’s ability to secure a conviction remains uncertain. As the controversy continues, the outcome is expected to have significant implications for how social media speech is treated under the law going forward.