In my youthful days as a Shoney’s waiter, I learned the true meaning of '86'—not from seashells but from chicken fried steak shortages. Yet, according to Wikipedia, this term now has a new connotation: refusing service or even murder. How fitting, then, that former FBI director James Comey faced such a fate.

Back in 2025, Comey posted an Instagram photo of shells shaped like '86' and '47'. Unbeknownst to him, this seemingly harmless arrangement might have legal implications. Trump, who has long harboured animosity towards Comey since his investigation into Russian ties, saw his chance.

Through a series of blunders, the Trump administration tried to indict Comey based on his shell photo—a move that backfired spectacularly. The case was dismissed in Virginia, and even the interim US attorney for the region was canned as a result. It appears the administration's desire to make life difficult for Comey has been more successful than they hoped.

Will this bizarre incident set a precedent? Can an Instagram post of seashells be enough to indict someone? For now, it remains a case study in how not to use the power of the federal government. The world waits to see if 86ing Comey was just the beginning.