Todd Blanche Faces Tough Questions on Comey Indictment Amid MAGA Influencer's Similar Post

During a heated exchange on “CBS Mornings,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche found himself under scrutiny from Major Garrett regarding the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. The discussion pivoted to a post made by MAGA influencer Jack Posobiec, who had previously shared a similar message without facing any legal repercussions.

“Let’s do a compare and contrast, Mr. Blanche,” Garrett challenged. “In 2022, Jack Posobiec, a prominent figure in right-wing circles, posted ‘86 46’ on X and left it up. Comey has done both of those things, yet the Biden Justice Department never prosecuted Posobiec. By the standards of that grand jury, shouldn’t he also be facing charges?”

This week, Comey was indicted by the Department of Justice, which is under President Donald Trump’s administration, for a now-deleted Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read “86 47.” This indictment follows Comey’s previous accusations of lying during a congressional hearing related to Trump’s alleged ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign.

The number 86 is often used in culinary contexts to indicate that a dish should be discarded. However, the DOJ contends that Comey’s post was interpreted as a threat against Trump, the 47th president. In a striking parallel, Posobiec’s “86 46” could similarly be seen as a threat directed at Joe Biden, the 46th president.

Addressing his own controversial post from 2022, Posobiec spoke with Steve Bannon, stating he had already consulted with his family and legal advisors about the implications. “I am prepared at this time to fully turn myself into State’s Evidence and cooperate in any way with the Department of Justice and testify against James Comey,” he declared.

Garrett pressed Blanche on whether the Justice Department would consider pursuing Posobiec’s case, given the apparent similarities. Blanche firmly dismissed the comparison. “That’s just completely not true,” he asserted. “A grand jury doesn’t simply look at one image and decide to indict or not. They conduct thorough investigations.”

Blanche defended the indictment against Comey, emphasizing that each case is unique. “You cannot compare what happened last time with what’s happening now. Every investigation has its own set of facts,” he explained. “The American people understand that there are numerous factors involved in deciding whether someone should be charged. Just because there’s a similar image or statement doesn’t mean they’re treated the same way.”

Following his indictment, Comey maintained his innocence in a video shared on Substack, asserting he is “still not afraid.” He remarked, “Well, they’re back. This time about a picture of seashells on a North Carolina beach over a year ago, and this won’t be the end of it.”

However, Blanche cautioned against oversimplifying the situation. “Anyone who tries to suggest this is merely about seashells is missing the point entirely. You cannot threaten the president of the United States,” he stated emphatically.