A federal judge said former FBI Director James Comey will not have to appear in a North Carolina courtroom next week if he formally waives the hearing in the criminal case tied to allegations that he threatened President Donald Trump.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A federal judge on Thursday indicated she will cancel former FBI Director James Comey’s scheduled court appearance in North Carolina if his legal team files a formal waiver by Friday in the federal criminal case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump.
Comey had been ordered to appear Monday in federal court in Greenville, North Carolina, after being indicted last month by a federal grand jury over a social media post involving shells arranged to display the numbers “86-47,” which prosecutors alleged constituted a threat against the president.
According to Associated Press reporting, U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan said the hearing would be canceled if Comey submits the required waiver paperwork by Friday. If the waiver is not filed, the hearing will proceed as scheduled.
Comey already made an initial appearance in the case last week after surrendering to federal authorities in Virginia.
Court filings indicated Comey planned to request cancellation of the North Carolina appearance if directed by the court, and his attorneys said the request was not opposed by the Justice Department.
Federal prosecutors charged Comey after he posted an image online last year showing seashells arranged in the sand to form the numbers “86-47.” Prosecutors argued the message constituted a threat targeting President Donald Trump.
Comey has denied intending any threat and said he did not understand the meaning behind the numbers at the time of the post.
The former FBI director has not yet formally entered a plea in the case but has publicly maintained his innocence in a written statement posted online.
Federal authorities charged Comey with making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, according to prior court filings and CNN reporting.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the two federal counts carry a combined maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison if Comey is convicted.
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