WASHINGTON, April 28, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Justice secured a two-count indictment on April 28 charging former FBI director James Comey with threatening the life of President Donald Trump and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, stems from an Instagram photo Comey posted in May 2025 showing seashells arranged to read "86 47" — a combination some interpreted as a call to "86" (slang for get rid of/kill) the 47th president. Each felony count carries up to 10 years in prison. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who announced the indictment, characterized the matter as a routine prosecution of threats against a public official. Comey said he is innocent, noted he removed the post after controversy, and signalled he will contest the charges. The move follows an earlier DOJ indictment of Comey last September that was dismissed after a judge found the prosecutor’s appointment unlawful. Legal experts expect First Amendment and vindictive-prosecution arguments to be mounted in defence.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has ordered expedited license-renewal reviews of eight Disney‑owned ABC television stations after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump publicly called for ABC to fire late‑night host Jimmy Kimmel. The move, announced around April 28, 2026, follows a year‑long FCC probe into Disney and ABC’s diversity and inclusion practices and could — in theory — lead to revocation of broadcast licences, an outcome the commission has not pursued in more than four decades. The FCC’s Republican chair, Brendan Carr, who was appointed in 2025, has said early reviews were under consideration; Democratic commissioner Anna Gomez called the step “unlawful” and a political stunt. Disney has said its stations comply with FCC rules and intends to defend its record. The dispute intensified after Kimmel’s parody monologue referencing Melania Trump aired days before a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner; the alleged attacker has been charged. Disney’s board chair said the new CEO would determine the company’s response. Legal challenges are expected.

The U.S. State Department confirmed on April 28, 2026, it will produce a limited-edition passport design for the country's 250th anniversary that includes a portrait of President Donald Trump and his signature rendered in gold on an interior page. Renderings show Trump’s portrait superimposed over text from the Declaration of Independence opposite a historic painting of the signing. The department said the commemorative books will retain standard security features and will be available to applicants while supplies last, with officials indicating the Washington Passport Agency will be the primary distribution point. Reports of an initial print run of roughly 25,000–30,000 were circulated but a State Department official called that figure "fake news" and did not confirm numbers. It is unclear whether applicants can opt out of receiving the special edition; the department said there will be no extra fee. The passport move is part of broader "America250" celebrations and follows other administration actions to place the president’s image or name on coins, currency signatures, national park passes and federal buildings, prompting debate over precedent and politicisation of official documents.

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on April 27 joined calls for ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after a parody segment in which Kimmel joked that Melania had “a glow like an expectant widow.” The remark aired days before a gunman opened fire near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25; a suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested and later charged with attempting to assassinate the president. Kimmel defended the line on his show, saying it was a light roast about the couple’s age difference and “not by any stretch…a call to assassination.” Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is expected to press for an unprecedented early review of Walt Disney Co.’s broadcast licences and, according to reports, may direct Disney’s eight owned‑and‑operated TV stations to file early renewals. The potential probe — denounced by Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez as unlawful and politically motivated — comes as Disney’s new CEO Josh D’Amaro, praised by Disney Chair James Gorman, faces pressure over ABC. ABC and Disney have not immediately commented. The dispute revives questions about broadcaster regulation, First Amendment protections and the commercial and legal risks facing major media owners.

Federal prosecutors charged Cole Tomas Allen, 31, on April 27–28 with attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and related firearms offences after he allegedly tried to breach a security perimeter at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Washington Hilton. Authorities say Allen was armed with a 12‑gauge shotgun, a .38 semi‑automatic pistol and knives; one Secret Service agent was shot but protected by a ballistic vest and is expected to recover. Video and affidavits show agents quickly removed Mr. Trump and other officials from the ballroom; the suspect was tackled near stairs one floor above the venue. Court filings and family interviews indicate Allen booked a hotel room weeks earlier, travelled cross‑country by train and sent a manifesto to relatives minutes before the attack. He appeared in federal court and faces life in prison on the assassination count, plus additional counts for transporting and discharging firearms. The White House has ordered a security review: Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will meet Secret Service and Homeland Security leaders to reassess protective perimeters for upcoming high‑profile events. The incident has renewed scrutiny of presidential protection and event security protocols.