<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Trump administration will soon be asking a judge and jury to believe that </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/james-comey-indicted-ex-fbi-chief-charged-over-seashell-photo-officials-say-threatened-trump/f14e8c48-f195-4cdc-ac5b-7817c63ce7db" rel="" target="" title="four digits constitute a death threat"><span>four digits constitute a death threat</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But if they are successful, it may create an unusual precedent that could land some of the president's backers behind bars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/former-fbi-director-comey-indicted-on-charges-of-making-a-false-statement-obstruction/10d87cfc-b3e9-4da7-a29a-26dbf1b8a3ee" rel="" target="" title="Former FBI Director James Comey"><span>Former FBI Director James Comey</span></a><span> posted an image on Instagram which threatens to put him in jail for ten years.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-gold-statue-cryptocurrency-doral-florida-golf-course-usa-politics-news/86757205-191c-4eab-b021-8cd9038da89f"><strong><span>Giant golden statue of Trump installed at his Florida golf course</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The photo showed a series of seashells and pebbles spelling out the numbers "86 47" on the sand.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"86" is an old-fashioned slang for an item that is no longer on a diner menu, and is commonly used to mean "to throw out".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And "47" is often used to describe </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span>, as the 47th president of the United States.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/james-comey-86-47-death-threat-jack-posobiec-usa-donald-trump-news/ab77b1f6-539a-4461-9c1b-3b02ff4ccf82" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now the Department of Justice is arguing the message was a death threat against Trump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-thom-tillis-kristi-noem-ice-department-of-homeland-security-senate-usa/46925cce-c784-4f7b-bd3e-64d5f70a67a1" rel="" target="" title="Republican Senator Thom Tillis"><span>Republican Senator Thom Tillis</span></a><span> thought the charge against Comey was unwise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I just think it's another example of where we're going to regret this, because we're setting a fairly low bar," Tillis told CNN.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-irs-lawsuit-suing-10-billion-dollars-tax-office-usa-politics-news/929663f2-f255-4936-8084-1d986ee08d65" rel="" target="" title="Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren"><span>Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren</span></a><span> called the charge "bogus".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This would be embarrassing if it wasn't so damaging," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-face-passport-signature-washington-politics-usa-news/9d83d8e2-6746-4a04-bab3-a9e182b1f8c2"><strong><span>Trump's face, golden signature to be included on US passports</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Soon after the charge was made against Comey, pro-Trump influencer Jack Posobiec praised the decision.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But it was soon pointed out that Posobiec had posted an identical message about Joe Biden in 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"86 46," Posobiec wrote on X, in a message that is still there.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/dilbert-cartoon-dropped-controversy-newspapers-drop-comic-strip-racist-tirade-creator-scott-adams/cde9eb1a-409a-4123-acea-498a8b2441e9" rel="" target="" title="Dilbert creator Scott Adams"><span>Dilbert creator Scott Adams</span></a><span> wrote in 2024 "The Simulation says it is time to '86' Biden."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, Fox News host Jesse Watters had used "86" numerous times to describe somebody being fired.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nevertheless, he claimed Comey had "put a hit out on Trump".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comey said he did not arrange the shells, but took the photo after finding them that way on a beach.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Soon after it was posted he took it down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I didn't realise some folks associate those numbers with violence," Comey said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-jessica-tarlov-least-attractive-reporter-fox-the-five-usa-news/caa7a980-abb3-4c7f-a907-844a967b6ecc"><strong><span>Trump calls presenter 'least attractive', demands she be taken off TV</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump himself challenged the notion that Comey was unaware of the ulterior meaning of the numbers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Well if anybody knows anything about crime, they know '86' is a mob term for 'kill 'em,'" Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You ever see the movies?"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump himself has a long history of making remarks that could be construed as threats of violence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a campaign speech in 2016, he appeared to infer that Hillary Clinton could be shot if she wins the presidency.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks, although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is. I don't know," Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-25th-amendment-not-fit-to-serve-team-of-experts-jamie-raskin-usa-politics-news/08cb968c-0c16-492d-9137-df77ccf7b17d"><strong><span>Proposed team of experts to decide if Trump is fit for office</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comey made his first appearance in court today. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The magistrate judge rebuffed efforts from the Department of Justice to set conditions on Comey's release.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-joe-kent-wife-died-hired-national-counterterrorism-centre-usa-news/d1e2182e-8f9c-413e-8954-a26be6e4105c"><strong><span>Trump said he appointed counterterrorism official because his wife died</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>