The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed court documents urging a judge to deny former FBI Director James Comey’s motion to dismiss his indictment. The case centers on a social media post made by Comey featuring a photo of seashells arranged to spell “86 47.” Prosecutors contend that there is “no serious dispute” that an objective viewer could interpret the post as a threat to “kill President Trump,” arguing that the determination of whether the post qualifies as a “true threat” is a question of fact that should be left to a jury.

In their recent filings, federal prosecutors also addressed concerns regarding the origins of the investigation. They stated that the decision to charge Comey was made independently and was not influenced by Donald Trump or senior Justice Department leadership. This filing comes in response to Comey’s legal team, which has sought to have the charges dropped. While the DOJ maintains that the post’s meaning is ambiguous enough to warrant a trial, Comey’s defense is challenging the legal basis of the prosecution. The case, which originated from an indictment by a grand jury in North Carolina, remains ongoing as the court considers whether the matter should proceed to trial.