Legal analyst says FBI mishandled DOJ's case against former FBI chief James Comey
A legal commentator argues the FBI botched the Justice Department's prosecution of James Comey over the meaning of “86.”
Legal expert Roger Parloff asserts that the FBI has mishandled the Justice Department’s attempt to charge former FBI director James Comey, basing the case on the alleged meaning of the slang “86.” Parloff explains that Comey clarified his only exposure to the term was in the restaurant industry, where it means to cancel an order, not to kill. The FBI reportedly scoured past cases for gangland usage of “86,” but found no relevant examples, according to a timeline Parloff compiled.
Former prosecutor John Gleeson, who oversaw numerous Mafia cases, testified he has never heard “86” used as a synonym for murder, describing the theory as “laughable.” The prosecution also leaned on a text message involving Comey’s wife Patrice and an unnamed interlocutor, whose interpretation of “86” was influenced by Rudy Giuliani’s commentary. Parloff characterizes the effort as a politically motivated, unfounded prosecution that would likely fail in court.
Why it matters
The piece questions a high-profile federal prosecution, highlighting potential misuse of legal power for political ends.
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