前FBI局长詹姆斯·科米向法院提交动议，要求驳回针对他的联邦刑事指控[1]。科米被控"故意并蓄意"威胁特朗普生命，以及通过州际商业传递威胁[1]。科米的律师辩称，他在社交媒体上发布的贝壳排成"86 47"数字的照片属于受保护的政治言论，而非真实威胁[1]。
"86 47"这一口号长期以来在网络文化中意为"除掉"或"赶出"，已被数千种在线商品使用[1]。科米在被特勤局采访后删除了该帖子，并声称"我没有意识到有些人将这些数字与暴力联系起来"[1]。对此，特朗普在接受Fox News采访时回应称："一个孩子都知道那是什么意思。如果你是FBI局长还不知道，那意味着暗杀。"[1]
代理司法部长托德·布兰奇在4月表示将通过"证人、文件、被告人"来证明意图[1]。这是针对科米的第二起案件；之前在弗吉尼亚州针对他的案件因非法任命的检察官在去年11月被驳回[1]。
Former FBI Director James Comey has asked a judge to dismiss federal charges accusing him of threatening former President Donald Trump through a social media post featuring seashells arranged in the numerals "86 47" [1]. Comey's legal team argues the image constitutes protected political speech rather than a genuine threat, characterizing the prosecution as retaliatory action by the Trump administration against a political opponent [1].
Comey faces charges of intentionally and willfully threatening Trump's life and transmitting threats through interstate commerce [1]. The numerals "86 47" have long functioned as internet shorthand meaning "remove" or "get rid of," and the phrase has been incorporated into thousands of online products [1]. After being interviewed by the Secret Service, Comey deleted the post and stated, "I was not aware that some people were connecting these numbers to violence" [1].
This marks the second case brought against Comey; a previous prosecution in Virginia was dismissed in November due to the prosecutor's invalid appointment [1]. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch asserted in April that the government would prove intent "through witnesses, documents, and the defendant" [1]. Trump, when interviewed by Fox News, countered: "A child would know what that means. If you're the FBI director and you don't know it, it means assassination" [1].