There's More to Comey Case Than Seashells, Blanche Says

The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey involves more than a single social media post, the acting attorney general said Sunday. Todd Blanche, appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, emphasized that the case did not hinge only on an Instagram image of seashells arranged as "86-47," the Hill reports. He said career prosecutors and agents from the Justice Department, FBI, and Secret Service conducted an 11-month investigation before a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment last week that characterizes the post as a threat to President Trump.

"If the only facts that existed was the posting of the Instagram, obviously that wouldn't have taken 11 months," he said, while declining to describe the additional evidence. He said that material would be disclosed at trial. Comey has denied wrongdoing. Asked if other people who display the digits—on a T-shirt, for instance—would be prosecuted, Blanche said no. Other unspecified evidence against Comey involving intent makes his case different, Blanche said, per the New York Times. "You prove intent with witnesses; you prove intent with documents," he said.

Speaking later on Meet the Press, Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff said the only thing that makes Comey's case different is that he "is a political opponent of the president." Republican Sen. Sen. Thom Tillis said on CNN's State of the Union that Blanche may not have his confirmation vote, should he be nominated for attorney general by Trump. The issue for him is the motion the Justice Department has filed to vacate the seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys members over the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, per the Hill. "These thugs that injured police officers and anybody who condoned their behavior will not get my vote," Tillis said.