James Comey indicted over Instagram post with seashells arranged as '86 47'
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on federal charges of threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce over an Instagram post from nearly a year ago showing seashells arranged to display the numbers '86 47' with the caption 'Cool shell formation on my beach walk.' President Trump claimed on Wednesday that '86' is a mob term for murder and accused Comey of knowing this. Legal experts have questioned the case's merit, arguing the post constitutes protected speech rather than a true threat.
59
Divergence score
4 outlets covered it, splitting into 4 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
4 camps
2 bias groups
The spectrum · how 4 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
ABC News
The Hill
CNN
Reuters
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
The Hill
Trump: Comey knows 'full well' that '86' is 'mob term for kill'
Trump's accusation of Comey's knowledge · neutral
CNN
Former Justice Department official: Case against James Comey has 'zero merit'
Expert skepticism of prosecution · negative
First to report
- CNNfirst
- Reuters+13.1 h
- The Hill+23.2 h
- ABC News+25.5 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Trump frames the post as knowing use of mob terminology to threaten his life; legal experts argue the speech is protected and the prosecution targets a political adversary. Outlets either amplify Trump's interpretation or feature expert skepticism.
How each outlet covered it
Only the left is covering this
One side of the spectrum has stayed silent. That absence is itself a signal.
THE LEFT
“Former Justice Department official: Case against James Comey has 'zero merit'”CNN CNN LEFT
0RIGHT OUTLETS
0
RIGHT OUTLETS
0 of 4 outlets covering this story sit on that side of the spectrum.
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Prosecution of ex-FBI chief Comey over seashell post is flawed, experts say” · The Hill, Reuters
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 4 outlets put it
7 tracked claims across 4 outlets
Fact ledger
All7Claimed4Corroborated3
2/4
Claimed
Trump claims '86' is a mob term for murder or killing
Source ·Trump makes this claim via social media post, reported by ABC News and The Hill
Corroborated
Disputed
6 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger