Federal authorities have initiated an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey concerning a recent Instagram post that has been widely interpreted as a cryptic threat against former President Donald Trump. The post featured seashells arranged to display the numbers "8647," which some allege symbolizes a call for violence against Trump, the 47th president. The number "86" is American slang for removing or, in some contexts, killing. The image and its implications were serious enough to prompt immediate attention from the Secret Service.
"The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees," said agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. "We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI Director and we take rhetoric like this very seriously."
Following the post's circulation, Comey removed it amidst the backlash and issued a statement indicating his purported ignorance of the violent connotations associated with the numbers. "I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me, but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down," Comey explained.
Yet, the damage seems to have been done. Conservative figures and commentators have voiced their concerns, suggesting the post was a veiled incitement of violence against Trump. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized Comey's actions as calling for Trump's assassination and confirmed the ongoing investigation into the matter on social media.
The Secret Service has reportedly dispatched agents to question Comey about the post, as confirmed by a federal law enforcement official who spoke to USA TODAY under the condition of anonymity. This step is considered standard procedure when a threat against a current or former president is perceived.
The incident comes at a time of increased security concerns for Trump, who was the target of two assassination attempts last year during his presidential campaign. These attempts included a shooting at a Pennsylvania rally and an arrest of a man aiming a rifle at Trump in Florida.
Comey's relationship with Trump has been historically fraught, beginning with Comey's dismissal from his FBI role in 2017—a move that led to the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election. Comey has since been a vocal critic of Trump, at one point deeming him "morally unfit" for the presidency.
Current FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the bureau's awareness of Comey's post and confirmed cooperation with the Secret Service. The investigation continues to elicit reactions from various officials, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who expressed skepticism regarding Comey's claim of ignorance, citing Comey's extensive experience dealing with criminal terminology.
