PEN America Blasts Use of Comey Novel in Trump Threat Case Over '8647' Post
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 22
PEN America Blasts Use of Comey Novel in Trump Threat Case Over '8647' Post
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 22
Summary
PEN America on Friday called prosecutors’ reliance on James Comey’s novel a “desperate Hail Mary” in a case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump.
Tuesday court filings said Comey’s May 2025 Instagram photo of seashells spelling “8647” could be read as a threat—“86” meaning remove and Trump being the 47th president.
Prosecutors also argued FDR Drive and a book review showed Comey sent coded messages to followers, and claimed he had a financial motive to stir controversy; the novel has sold 6,471 copies, according to Circana BookScan.
Comey is seeking dismissal, saying the post was protected speech, not a “true threat,” and that he opposes violence; his lawyers call the indictment selective and vindictive.
The dispute extends a long Trump-Comey feud dating to the Russia investigation, while PEN America warned that using creative works in criminal cases threatens First Amendment protections.