Ex-FBI head released after court appearance over post

Former FBI director James Comey appeared in federal court in Virginia, a day after he was indicted over a social media post that prosecutors alleged threatened US President Donald Trump.

Comey surrendered on two charges, including threatening the president’s life and transmitting threats across state lines.

The former FBI director did not speak during a brief hearing.

His lawyer, Patrick Fitzgerald, said he would argue the case was a revenge investigation, meaning the case was filed to punish Comey for exercising his legal rights.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick of the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Comey released and did not impose any special conditions.

His next court appearance is expected in North Carolina, where a federal grand jury returned the indictment on Tuesday.

Comey’s family entered the courthouse shortly before the hearing began.

Comey has said he is innocent and will fight the charges in court.

In court Wednesday, Comey listened as Fitzpatrick read aloud the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The charges relate to a post Comey made on Instagram last May that showed seashells arranged on a beach to form the numbers “86 47.”

The number “86” is a slang term from the restaurant industry that can mean “saving” or throwing someone out.

Forty-seven is a possible reference to Trump being the 47th US president.

The indictment alleged that a reasonable recipient of the message would interpret it as a threat against Trump.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he considered “86” a “mob term.”

“People think it’s a disappearance thing, but the mob uses that term to say they want to kill someone,” Trump told reporters at the White House. he said.

When asked if he thought the post put his life in danger, Trump replied, “Probably. I don’t know.”

Comey deleted the post shortly after it was published, saying he saw it as a political message and was unaware that the number could be associated with violence.

Comey, a longtime foe of Trump, faced two criminal charges from the Justice Department during Trump’s second administration.

An earlier lawsuit accusing him of lying to Congress was dismissed by a federal judge.