Key Highlights
- A rookie federal prosecutor who brought a case accusing former FBI Director James Comey of threatening President Donald Trump’s life by posting a photo of seashells on Instagram has stepped off the case.
- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, W. Ellis Boyle, oversaw the highly criticized case.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo is now heading the Comey case.
- A two-count indictment was brought against James Comey late last month, suggesting that a reasonable person would interpret the image as “a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.”
James Comey’s legal woes continue, with a rookie federal prosecutor stepping aside on the case that aimed to indict him for threatening the life of President Donald Trump. Matthew Petracca, who was hired as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of North Carolina and had brought the highly criticized case to a federal grand jury, is no longer involved.
The Case Against Comey
According to court filings, Petracca left the Justice Department after only a week of contemplating leaving. His departure comes as the case against Comey hangs in the balance, with an indictment brought late last month that suggests interpreting the Instagram photo of seashells spelling out “86 47” as a serious threat.
Interpreting the Shell Game
The indictment doesn’t spell out what the numbers mean. The term “86” is widely considered to be restaurant slang for being out of something in the kitchen, and the 47 was thought to be a reference to the 47th president. This case is part of a broader pattern where the Justice Department has tried to indict Comey twice, with the first attempt dismissed by a judge who ruled the federal prosecutor had been improperly appointed.
Public Reaction and Legal Challenges
The case has faced significant criticism from legal experts, including conservatives. Scholar Jonathan Turley wrote that the indictment is unconstitutional and will not likely survive constitutional challenge. Former President Trump himself called Comey “a dirty cop” in response to the charges, adding fuel to the fire of political controversy.
Shifting Prosecutors
With Petracca stepping aside, Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo is now leading the case. There were recent interactions with Comey’s defense team that instead communicated with First Assistant U.S.
Attorney Phil Aubart. The timeline suggests this could be a critical phase as the case moves forward, possibly to trial in October.
For now, the writing on the wall for Comey remains. Whether the indictment holds up or not, this case continues to highlight the ongoing tension between the Justice Department and former FBI Director James Comey.
