'Mar-a-Lago ATM': James Comey hits back at Trump fund as he fights seashell indictment
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid a long-running clash between Donald Trump and former FBI Director James Comey over a controversial social media post, Comey on Monday, May 18, reiterated his innocence and slammed the administration's plan to create an "anti-weaponization" fund for the president's allies.
Earlier on Sunday, Comey said he has “complete faith” in the American judicial system as he continues to fight federal charges connected to a social media post that prosecutors allege threatened President Donald Trump.
James Comey reiterates innocence in '8647' post case
Appearing on 'Good Morning America', Comey told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that he could not discuss details of the case against him, but said, "I am not just not guilty, I am innocent, and I have amazing lawyers who are also my friends, so we will do our absolute best in a courtroom. And I feel good about it."
Comey was further asked about the resources he and his family can take in response to the Trump administration's targeting. He replied, "We can avail ourselves of the last healthy part of the American government, which is the federal judiciary.”
"So, my daughter is suing them to establish that you cannot fire a career person without cause, and obviously, I'm defending myself, successfully in the last case, and I have this ongoing one in North Carolina about seashells," Comey added.
Detailing the case against James Comey
A federal grand jury in North Carolina indicted former FBI Director James Comey last month over a 2025 Instagram post that showed seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47,” alongside the caption, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
The case centers on the interpretation of the number “86,” which is sometimes used in slang to mean “get rid of” or “eliminate.” Allies of Donald Trump argued that the post was an indirect threat toward Trump, the 47th president of the United States.
Comey has denied any violent intent, saying he did not know the numbers could be interpreted that way.
James Comey blasts anti-weaponization fund
Comey was also asked about Trump’s plans to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department in exchange for a $1.7 billion anti-weaponization fund to compensate allies who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration.
"What do you make of that?" Stephanopoulos asked Comey.
"Yeah, if I put it in my next novel, I'm sure my editor would strike it out and say it's crazy," Comey said. "It just can't be the way we operate. We can't set up a multi-million dollar ATM at Mar-a-Lago for people who've committed crimes. It just isn't the way we are. It's not consistent with our values.
"Eventually, the Department of Justice will right itself, but we're gonna have to ride out a hard two years," he added.
