Coverage dated July 27, 2026 to July 30, 2026

New Secret Service emails reveal how case was built against James Comey

Headline from KEYT Santa Barbara, on the newest of 3 developments

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Federal officials, apparently acting without a warrant, tracked former FBI Director James Comey from North Carolina to Virginia after he posted photos of seashells spelling out “86 47” last year, Comey’s attorneys allege.

KEYT Santa Barbara's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. James Comey’s attorneys ask for seashell threats case to be dismissed

    Headline from KYMA Yuma ·

  2. Investigators in James Comey seashells case omitted key facts, defense lawyers allege

    Headline from Anchorage Daily News ·

  3. Newest

    New Secret Service emails reveal how case was built against James Comey

    Headline from KEYT Santa Barbara ·

5 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

73 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Hill

    Comey moves to dismiss seashell case as '86 47' message was not a 'true threat' (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey on Monday asked the court to toss the case accusing him of threatening President Trump’s life, arguing that posting a picture of seashells spelling out "86 47" could not be considered a “true threat.

  2. The Republic

    Comey says seashells post was political speech – not a threat – as he presses to dismiss charges (opens The Republic)

    Published

    The Republic's feed description

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Director James Comey urged a judge on Monday to throw out federal charges against him, arguing that a photo of seashells arranged on a beach he posted on social media was not a call to violence against President Donald Trump but protected political speech.

  3. Winchester Star

    Comey says seashells post was political speech - not a threat - as he presses to dismiss charges (opens Winchester Star)

    Published

    Winchester Star's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey is urging a judge to throw out federal charges against him. He's arguing that a photo of seashells arranged on a beach he posted on social media was not a call to violence against President…

  4. The Brunswick News

    Former FBI Director Comey asks judge to dismiss Trump threat case over ‘86 47’ post (opens The Brunswick News)

    Published

    The Brunswick News's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey Jr. is asking a federal judge to dismiss a federal criminal case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump, arguing that his Instagram post at the center of the case doesn’t meet the legal definition…

  5. KEZI Eugene

    James Comey asks judge to drop case over ‘86 47’ seashell post (opens KEZI Eugene)

    Published

    KEZI Eugene's feed description

    Attorneys for former FBI Director James Comey asked a federal judge to dismiss the seashell threats case against him, which is set to go to trial in October, arguing that there was no actual threat against President Donald Trump in…

  6. NBC News

    Citing ‘common sense,’ James Comey’s team urges judge to toss seashells case (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    Attorneys for James Comey have asked a federal judge to dismiss the seashells-based prosecution of the former FBI director.

  7. ABC News

    James Comey files motion seeking dismissal of seashell indictment (opens ABC News)

    Published

    ABC News's feed description

    Ex-FBI Director James Comey's attorneys have filed a motion seeking the dismissal of the indictment charging Comey for posting a picture of seashells spelling out "8647."

  8. UPI

    Ex-FBI Director James Comey asks judge to dismiss seashell ‘threat’ case (opens UPI)

    Published

    UPI's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey formally asked a judge Monday to dismiss the case accusing him of threatening to kill President Donald Trump.

  9. PBS NewsHour

    Comey says seashells post was political speech, not a threat, as he presses judge to dismiss charges (opens PBS NewsHour)

    Published

    PBS NewsHour's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey is urging a judge to throw out federal charges against him.

  10. Washington Examiner

    Comey asks court to dismiss ’86 47′ seashell case (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss the Trump administration’s indictment over his social media post featuring seashells in the shape of “86 47,” an apparent threat against the president, as alleged by the Department of Justice.

  11. First Coast News

    Former FBI Dir. James Comey defends his seashells post as he seeks to dismiss federal charges (opens First Coast News)

    Published

    First Coast News's feed description

    James Comey seeks dismissal of federal charges over an Instagram post, arguing it's protected speech rather than a threat against President Trump.

  12. The Brunswick News

    Former FBI Director Comey says Trump threat case could chill free speech, seeks dismissal (opens The Brunswick News)

    Published

    The Brunswick News's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey Jr. is asking a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump, arguing that the prosecution endangers free speech by treating a political message as a criminal threat. “While…

  13. KESQ Palm Springs

    Comey argues ‘86 47’ seashell post wasn’t a ‘true threat’ and asks judge to drop case (opens KESQ Palm Springs)

    Published

    KESQ Palm Springs's feed description

    By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Attorneys for former FBI Director James Comey asked a federal judge to dismiss the seashell threats case against him, which is set to go to trial in October, arguing that there was no actual threat against President Donald Trump in the now year-old post.

  14. Breitbart News

    James Comey Asks Charges Be Dropped, Says '86 47' Not a Threat (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey asked a judge to drop the charges against him, arguing that his "86 47" post was political speech, not a threat against President Donald Trump.

  15. Independent Journal Review

    Comey Claims Seashell Message Was Political Speech (opens Independent Journal Review)

    Published

    Independent Journal Review's feed description

    When former FBI Director James Comey arranged seashells on a beach, he thought it was protected political speech, not a threat against President Donald Trump. Because of this, on Monday, Comey urged a judge to throw out…

  16. KYMA Yuma

    James Comey’s attorneys ask for seashell threats case to be dismissed (opens KYMA Yuma)

    Published

    KYMA Yuma's feed description

    In a Monday court filing, former FBI Director Comey's attorneys told a federal judge there was no actual threat against President Donald Trump in a 2025 social media post.

  17. WDIO Duluth

    Investigators in James Comey seashells case omitted key facts, defense lawyers allege (opens WDIO Duluth)

    Published

    WDIO Duluth's feed description

    Federal officials have misled judges, submitted false statements and withheld key facts during the course of the investigation into former FBI director James Comey. That's according to new defense filings that seek the dismissal of a case charging the former FBI director with threatening President D…

  18. WDIO Duluth

    Investigators in Comey seashells case omitted key facts and distorted others, defense lawyers allege (opens WDIO Duluth)

    Published

    WDIO Duluth's feed description

    Federal officials involved in the prosecution of James Comey misled judges, submitted false statements and withheld key facts during the course of the investigation. That's according to new defense filings that seek the dismissal of a case charging the former FBI director with threatening President …

  19. The Hill

    Comey seeks to toss seashell '86' case, accusing Trump, DOJ of vindictive prosecution (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey asked a judge late Tuesday to dismiss the case against him over sharing a photo of seashells spelling “86 47,” arguing it amounts to a selective and vindictive prosecution ordered by President Trump.

  20. KEYT Santa Barbara

    New Secret Service emails reveal how case was built against James Comey (opens KEYT Santa Barbara)

    Published

    KEYT Santa Barbara's feed description

    By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Federal officials, apparently acting without a warrant, tracked former FBI Director James Comey from North Carolina to Virginia after he posted photos of seashells spelling out “86 47” last year, Comey’s attorneys allege.

  21. Al Jazeera

    James Comey’s lawyers say US government distorted details in seashell case (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    Case centres on social media post featuring seashells that prosecutors allege is a reference to killing President Trump.

  22. Reason

    Records Show the Government Illegally Surveilled James Comey and Confirm the Absurdity of Its Case Against Him (opens Reason)

    Published

    Reason's feed description

    Former FBI Director James Comey against a backdrop of his "86 47" seashell picture

  23. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    Comey case officials omitted key facts, defense lawyers say (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

    Published

    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description

    WASHINGTON -- Federal officials involved in the prosecution of James Comey misled judges, submitted documents containing false statements and withheld key facts during the course of the investigation, according to new defense filings that seek the dismissal of a case charging the former FBI director…

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

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