TODD BLANCHE WILL TOTALLY PROVE AT TRIAL THAT JAMES COMEY IS TRAVIS BICKLE, SWEAR TO GOD

On Meet the Press today, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche reassured Kristen Welker that it's not a crime merely to use the phrase "86 47" -- even though, in his view, it constitutes a threat to kill Donald Trump -- and those of us who have used the number code, or bought or sold "86 47" merchandise, shouldn't worry about being brought up on federal charges just for the use of the numbers.

WELKER: On Amazon, there are dozens of "8647" products being sold and purchased right now. Should individuals selling or buying that merchandise be concerned they are going to prosecuted? BLANCHE: Of course not

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) May 3, 2026 at 10:28 AM

WELKER: The image -- excuse me -- is part of what led to this indictment.

BLANCHE: Yes.

WELKER: It is worth noting that on Amazon.com -- we looked this up -- there are dozens of products with the same terminology. We're showing it right here: "86 47" being sold and purchased right now. Should individuals selling or buying "86 47" merchandise be concerned that they're going to be prosecuted by the DOJ?

BLANCHE: This isn't -- this isn't about a single incident. Okay, this isn't -- I mean, of course not. That's posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly. There are constantly men and women who choose to make threatening statements against President Trump. Every one of those statements do not result in indictments, of course. There are facts, there are circumstances, there are investigations that have to take place....

So why is James Comey being indicted for posting an image of seashells in an "86 47" arrangement? Blanche says that's super-secret:

WELKER: Just to be very clear: You are suggesting the seashells themselves are not at the root of this indictment.

BLANCHE: I am suggesting that every single case depends on the investigation that's done. And of course the seashells are part of that case -- I mean, that's what the public sees. But without a doubt -- and it should be evident by the fact that it's been eleven months since the posting and the indictment -- there is an investigation that takes place, and that's the result. The result of that investigation is the indictment that was returned last week.

The headline for NBC's story about this is "Acting Attorney General Says Indictment Against James Comey Goes Beyond Seashell Photo."

“This is not just about a single Instagram post,” Blanche told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “This is about a body of evidence that [prosecutors] collected over the series of about 11 months. That evidence was presented to the grand jury.”

Blanche said he was not “permitted” to share the other evidence against Comey that was collected, but added: “At the trial — a public trial that will be open to the public — everybody in this country will know exactly what evidence the government has against Mr. Comey.”

And, in fact, that's what the indictment implies (emphasis added below):

COUNT ONE

On or about May 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the defendant, JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR, did knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States, in that he publicly posted a photograph on the internet social media site Instagram which depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making out "86 47", which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States.

In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 871(a).

COUNT TWO

On or about May 15, 2025, in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the defendant, JAMES BRIEN COMEY JR, knowingly and willfully did transmit ininterstate and foreign commerce a communication that contained a threat to kill the President, Donald J. Trump, specifically, by publicly posting a photograph on theinternet social media site Instagram which depicted seashells arranged in a pattern making out "86 47", which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to President Trump.

In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c).

This is a hilarious bluff. Blanche wants us to think that James Comey is secretly this guy, a person acquiring and planning to use multiple weapons to take out Trump while living in a 1970s cold-water flat and wearing his hair in a Mohawk:

Once a jury is "familiar with the circumstances" of Comey's seedy, violent existence, it will be plain as day that he had intent to kill.

Blanche will probably be nominated to replace Pam Biondi as a result of this bluff, but at trial we'll all see that he has nothing. I assume the DOJ will present other perfectly reasonable, non-violent negative statements Comey has made about Trump and suggest that they're evidence of a crime; DOJ lawyers will probably use the phrase "Trump Derangement Syndrome," as if anyone who's not in the MAGA/Fox News cult believes that's an actual thing that suggests violent mental instability.

The case will be thrown out of court. But the cult will believe that a "swamp" judge tossed it in order to suppress inconvenient facts about Comey's murderous intent. And Blanche will need to indict a few more innocent people if he wants to save his job.