Ex-FBI chief Comey expected to surrender to US authorities following indictment, source says

Former FBI Director James Comey was expected ​to surrender to U.S. authorities ​on Wednesday, according to a source ‌familiar with ​the situation, a day after being indicted over a social media post that prosecutors allege threatened President Donald Trump.

Former FBI Director James Comey was expected ​to surrender to U.S. authorities ​on Wednesday, according to a source ‌familiar with ​the situation, a day after being indicted over a social media post that prosecutors allege threatened President Donald Trump. Comey ‌was expected to arrive at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Alexandria, Virginia, to turn himself in on two charges, including threatening the life of the president and transmitting threats across state lines. Comey ‌has said he is innocent and will fight the accusations in court. The indictment ‌marks a renewed push by Trump's Justice Department to target perceived political enemies of the president with criminal prosecution. Trump last year referred to Comey by name in a social media post calling for criminal charges ⁠against ​his adversaries.

The charges relate ⁠to a post Comey made on Instagram last May showing seashells arranged on a beach to form ⁠the numbers “86 47.” The number “86” is a slang term originating in the restaurant industry that can ​mean to “get rid of” or throw someone out. Forty-seven is a possible reference to ⁠Trump as the 47th U.S. president.

The indictment, approved by a federal grand jury in North Carolina, alleged that ⁠a ​reasonable recipient of the message would interpret it as a threat to Trump. Comey deleted the post shortly after it was published, saying he viewed it as a ⁠political message and was not aware that the numbers were associated with violence.

Comey, a longtime ⁠Trump foe, ⁠has now faced two criminal cases from the Justice Department during Trump’s second administration. A previous case accusing him of lying to Congress was ‌dismissed by ‌a federal judge.