前FBI局长詹姆斯·科米因在社交媒体发布海贝壳照片而遭联邦检察官起诉，指控其构成对特朗普的威胁。[1]科米的律师团队近日提交诉状，声称调查人员在案件中存在重大不当行为，包括向法官提交虚假陈述、隐瞒关键证据以及误导法庭。[1]
科米于2023年在Instagram发布的照片中，数字排列为"86 47"，司法部以此作为对第47任总统特朗普的威胁进行起诉。[1]辩护律师指出，FBI在内部数据库中搜索"86"与科米的关联，但搜索结果不确定，这一关键事实未被向法官披露。[1]此外，律师称检方在申请搜查令时扭曲了一位知情人的陈述，该人最初认为"86"指菜单上表示"没有"的含义，后来才改口认为可能是暴力号召。[1]
调查人员还曾向黑手党成员萨尔瓦托·格拉瓦诺询问"86"一词的含义，但格拉瓦诺表示不记得与科米讨论过这个词汇。[1]值得注意的是，科米此前在弗吉尼亚州面临的相关控告在今年11月被驳回，法官以检察官被非法任命为由做出裁决。[1]
Former FBI Director James Comey's legal team has accused federal investigators of misleading judicial authorities and concealing critical evidence in a case centered on seashell photographs posted to social media.[1] The Department of Justice prosecuted Comey over an Instagram post from 2023 featuring seashells arranged with the numbers "86 47," which prosecutors argued constituted a threat against Donald Trump, who holds the position of the 47th president.[1]
In newly filed court documents, Comey's defense team contends that the FBI searched its internal databases for associations between the number "86" and Comey but obtained inconclusive results that were not disclosed to the judge.[1] The defense also argues that investigators distorted statements from a witness during the warrant application process; this individual initially believed "86" referred to an item being unavailable on a menu before later suggesting it might represent a call to violence.[1] Additionally, investigators examined Salvatore Gravano, a Mafia member, who stated he had no recollection of discussing the term "86" with Comey.[1] The defense characterizes the prosecution as part of a retaliatory campaign by the Trump administration against its critics.[1]
A related charge against Comey in Virginia was dismissed in November after a judge determined the special counsel had been appointed unlawfully.[1] Furthermore, defense counsel alleges that Justice Department officials requested the Secret Service to conduct "unlawful" electronic surveillance of Comey and his wife, including monitoring during visits to their deceased son's gravesite.[1]