Trump DOJ consulted mafia boss, used emergency cell tracking in Comey case

DOJ Consulted Mobster in Rush to Charge James Comey

The federal government's investigation into former FBI Director James Comey has taken several highly unusual turns.

Comey was charged with allegedly threatening violence against President Donald Trump in April after posting an Instagram image of seashells arranged to spell "86 47." On Tuesday, Comey filed a motion to dismiss the case. In that court filing, his lawyers detailed what they described as drastic steps taken by authorities.

Key Developments

• Mobster consultation: The Department of Justice interviewed former mafia boss Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano to argue that "86" in Comey's post was a reference to murder. Gravano's testimony did not support the government's case; he stated that real organized crime figures would consider using the term too obvious.

• Expert rebuttal: Gravano suggested the FBI contact former federal prosecutor and judge John Gleeson. Gleeson told investigators: "The claim that '86' is mafia jargon for 'kill' is preposterous." Having prosecuted notable organized crime cases, Gleeson said he had never heard the term used that way in thousands of hours of debriefings and conversations with mobsters.

• Warrantless tracking: Federal agents used emergency cell phone tracking—which does not require a warrant—to monitor Comey's location as he drove from North Carolina to Virginia shortly after making the post. Such tracking is intended only for extreme situations, such as an "imminent threat to life or limb."

• Internal dissent: One Secret Service agent later wrote in a memo: "We did not believe that anyone's life was in immediate danger and legally it was a bad idea to ping the phone."

Background

Trump fired Comey in 2017 over the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The former president has continued to target Comey during his second term. The case has fallen apart multiple times and was only recently revived by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. It now appears destined to fail again.

Further reading: Trump's Case Against Comey Is Imploding—and Handing Dems a New Weapon

Alex Jones Calls for Impeachment of Trump Over Iran War

Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump—a dramatic reversal for someone who has been an unwavering supporter of the president for years.

Jones based his demand on Trump's military actions in Iran, which many on the MAGA right opposed from the start, viewing it as another endless foreign war—the kind of conflict Trump campaigned on ending.

Jones's Statement

In a video posted Tuesday afternoon, Jones said:

"The big issue is how to stop Trump. And we have to have Congress go for the war powers. They've tried three times to vote on war powers—they're supposed to authorize a war. This is a war; they're getting the draft ready. If this isn't a war, nothing's a war. I mean, this is absolutely out of control. And so I'm calling for it right now: Twenty-Fifth Amendment, impeachment, whatever needs to happen to get this front and center, to get control of our country."

Jones further alleged that Trump is preparing for a ground invasion of Iran—a red line for many in the "America First" wing of MAGA.

"They want us in a total war so they can censor and take our freedoms, nationalize everything, and push us aside with AI—total liability, immunity, and protection. This is a disaster. We are facing tyranny, but the public's awakening. We've got to come together and transcend left and right, and we have to say no to an expanded war that will definitely destroy the economy and kill a bunch of our troops. They're preparing a massive ground invasion. It's all confirmed. This is going down right now."

Context

While this announcement is historically uncharacteristic for Jones, the internal MAGA split over the Iran war has been building for some time. In April, after Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" in reference to Iran, Jones wrote: "How do we 25th Amendment his ass?"