Former FBI Director James Comey on Sunday sharply criticized Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for publicly discussing the federal case against him, telling the nation's top law enforcement official to 'bone up on the rules.' The exchange marks the latest escalation in a legal saga centered on an Instagram post featuring seashells that prosecutors allege constituted a threat against President Trump.
Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, Comey declined to address the specifics of the case but took aim at Blanche's decision to speak about the investigation in a recent interview. 'I don't talk about the case because the federal court rules require you not,' Comey said. 'I would urge the acting attorney general to bone up on the rules.'
The case stems from a photo Comey shared on Instagram in fall 2024, showing seashells arranged to read '86 47.' Prosecutors allege the post was a coded threat against the president. Comey has been indicted twice on charges including making false statements and obstruction, related to his 2020 Senate testimony and the Instagram post.
In an earlier interview with NBC, Blanche defended the investigation, stating it was 'not just about a single Instagram post' but rather 'a body of evidence that the grand jury collected over a series of about 11 months.' Comey refused to respond to that remark, saying, 'He ought not to be talking about it, I can't talk about it.'
Comey has consistently argued the prosecutions are politically motivated, a charge he reiterated Sunday. 'That's why we have a judicial process in a courtroom,' he added, emphasizing that the case should be tried in court, not in the media. The Justice Department previously charged Comey for false statements and obstruction in a 2020 Senate testimony, but a judge threw out that case after ruling that former U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed.
When asked whether, as a former FBI director, he should maintain impartiality, Comey defended his Instagram activity. 'I'm a private citizen. I saw a shell in the fall of 2024 where someone wrote an endorsement of Kamala Harris in a big seashell. I took a picture of it, I thought it was very clever,' he said, adding that he uses Instagram 'the way any awkward, nerdy dad would.'
The case raises broader questions about the independence of the Justice Department under the Trump administration. Calls for an independent DOJ have faced an uphill battle as political prosecutions draw scrutiny. Meanwhile, Blanche has also put reporters on notice over classified leak subpoenas, signaling a tough stance on leaks.
As the legal battle unfolds, Comey remains critical of the president and the prosecution, while Blanche continues to defend the investigation. The next court hearings are expected to address the validity of the charges and the role of the Instagram post in the case.
