Blanche Says Others Who Post ‘86 47’ Message Won’t Be Charged Like Comey
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey over an Instagram post featuring seashells spelling “86 47,” citing additional evidence gathered during an 11-month investigation.
- Blanche emphasized that the phrase “86 47” is commonly used and that others displaying it or selling related merchandise would not face prosecution, highlighting that Comey’s case involved a broader body of evidence not publicly disclosed.
- The indictment focuses solely on the seashell photo, with Blanche noting that proving Comey’s intent through witnesses and documents is central to the case, while Comey maintains his innocence and denies any violent connotation to the phrase.
- Senator Adam B. Schiff criticized the charges as politically motivated, asserting that Comey’s prosecution is driven by his status as a political opponent of the president and predicted the case would be dismissed before reaching a jury.
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