A federal judge has granted former FBI Director James Comey's request to delay his criminal trial until October. The case centers on a social media post Comey made featuring seashells arranged to spell out "86 47."

U.S. District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan approved the postponement on Tuesday, allowing Comey's legal team additional time to prepare their defense. The trial had originally been scheduled for an earlier date.

Prosecutors have charged Comey in connection with the seashell photograph, which they allege constituted a threat against President Trump. The numbers "86 47" refer to Trump's status as the 47th president, with "86" being slang meaning to eliminate or get rid of something.

Comey's defense attorneys are expected to file legal challenges to the case before the October trial date. The delay will provide time for these motions to be heard and decided by the court.

The case represents an unusual prosecution of a former high-ranking federal law enforcement official over social media activity. Comey previously served as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, when he was dismissed by Trump during his first presidential term.

The trial's outcome could have significant implications for how courts interpret social media posts and their potential classification as threats against public officials.