How Trump Officials Turned to AI and a Mafia Killer to Bolster Case Against Comey

The latest twist in Donald Trump’s vendetta against James Comey has exposed the shocking lengths to which his administration will go to punish its critics. A motion to dismiss a criminal case filed against the former FBI director reveals irregularities and bizarre methods used by law enforcement officials to build a flimsy case against him.

At the heart of this debacle is a photograph posted by Comey on Instagram in May 2025, showing a formation of seashells that spelled out “8647”. The Trump Justice Department claimed this was a threat on the president’s life and indicted Comey for posting what they deemed to be a “true threat”. However, internal documents show the investigation was marred by irregularities.

A key example is the decision to surveil Comey after he voluntarily agreed to an interview in Washington. Secret Service documents reveal that Trump requested regular updates on the investigation, which led to agents tracking Comey’s phone without a warrant through an exigency request. This action raised concerns about its legality despite another agent’s reservations.

The desperation to build a case against Comey is evident in the Justice Department’s attempts to interpret the meaning behind the term “86”. Initially unable to confirm it implied violence, officials interviewed Rudy Giuliani, a Trump ally with a history of making outlandish claims. They also searched records related to mobster John Gambino, yielding inconclusive results.

Moreover, law enforcement officials turned to ChatGPT and Google AI to search for meanings of the term “86”, but neither returned definitive results. These tools have limitations in understanding context and nuance, yet they were used as a crutch to prop up an already flimsy argument.

In a final attempt to shore up their case, investigators interviewed Salvatore “Sammy The Bull” Gravano, a one-time underboss in the Gambino crime family who confessed to nearly 20 murders. However, even he could only say that while he believed “86” meant “to get rid of someone”, he didn’t recall discussing it with Comey.

This case raises serious questions about the Trump administration’s motives and the willingness of its officials to bend or break the law in pursuit of their goals. It also underscores the deep-seated animosity between Trump and Comey, which has been a hallmark of their long-standing feud.

The entire affair is an indictment not just of Trump’s Justice Department but also a warning sign for the dangers of using law enforcement as a tool of personal vendetta. The consequences can be far-reaching and devastating, damaging the fabric of our democracy in the process.

As this saga continues to unfold, it’s clear that the Trump administration will stop at nothing to silence its critics and punish those who dare to challenge their authority. The shells of vindictiveness used as an excuse for Comey’s indictment ultimately reveal the rot that has infected our justice system under this administration.