Trump’s Justice Department Indicts James Comey Over Instagram Post: Political Prosecution or Legal Overreach?

The Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to escalate, with oil prices reaching their highest levels since the war began. Brent crude prices spiked above $120 per barrel overnight before settling around $114 at the time of publication. In comments to Axios on April 23, 2026, former President Donald Trump described the blockade’s impact, stating:

“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice has drawn sharp criticism for its handling of a high-profile indictment. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche led the felony indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over an Instagram post from last year. The post featured seashells arranged to spell “86 47,” which prosecutors interpreted as a coded death threat against Trump.

The indictment has sparked widespread outrage, with critics calling it a political prosecution and an abuse of Justice Department powers. Blanche, a seasoned prosecutor, faced intense scrutiny during a CBS News interview on April 22, 2026. When asked if he had proof that Comey “knowingly and willfully threatened the life of the president,” Blanche responded:

“My proof is in the fact that the grand jury returned an indictment.”

Blanche’s justification drew further skepticism when pressed on whether similar posts—such as a 2022 “86 46” mirror-image post by a MAGA influencer—should have been treated the same way.

“I have no idea whether there was an investigation into the other times that that post has been made and whether that investigation yielded different results,”

“This investigation that we undertook resulted in a two-count indictment.”

FBI Director Kash Patel also defended the indictment, claiming it required a lengthy investigation:

“This has been a case that’s been investigated over the past nine, ten, eleven months. These cases take time.”

Even Trump, who has previously called for severe penalties against lawmakers who defy his orders, seemed unconvinced by the legal basis of the indictment. When asked if he genuinely believed his life was in danger based on Comey’s post, Trump replied:

“Probably. I don’t know. You know, based [on] what you see, it’s hard to say.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel held a joint press conference at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2026, to discuss the indictment. The case has intensified debates over the politicization of the Justice Department and the boundaries of free speech.