Book him: Prosecutors using James Comey’s novel against him in seashells case

Key Points:

• Federal prosecutors in North Carolina argue that former FBI Director James Comey's crime novel "FDR Drive" supports their claim that his Instagram post of seashells arranged as "8647" was a true threat against President Trump, the 47th president.
• The novel features a prosecutor pursuing a far-right media figure whose enemies are killed after being singled out, paralleling the prosecution's view of Comey's Instagram post as a coded call to harm Trump.
• Prosecutors counter Comey's claim of selective prosecution by emphasizing the context of his post and noting that not all uses of "8647" constitute threats, unlike Comey's case which involves direct implications against the sitting president.
• Evidence shows Comey posted the image shortly after his wife warned him about the meaning of "86," a slang term that can mean "kill," and text exchanges indicate the post's viral nature was seen as potentially beneficial for his book sales.
• The prosecution denies political motivation, stating the decision to charge Comey was made independently by the U.S. attorney without pressure from President Trump, and argues that even if Trump had ordered the prosecution, it would be constitutionally permissible.