Former FBI Director James Comey is now under investigation by the Secret Service following a controversial social media post that has drawn criticism from Republican leaders. The post, which Comey shared on Instagram before subsequently deleting it, featured a photo of seashells arranged to spell out the numbers 8647. He captioned the image with the phrase: "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
The number 8647 has raised eyebrows due to its potential implications. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the number "86" is a slang term that can mean "to reject" or "to get rid of," but it has also been associated with a more sinister meaning—namely, "to kill." This raised alarm among critics, particularly in light of the fact that President Donald Trump is the 47th president of the United States, which ties into the posted numbers.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was quick to respond, alleging that Comey’s post could be interpreted as a call for the assassination of Trump. In contrast, Comey has stated that he opposes violence in any form. He later clarified in a follow-up post that he was unaware that some individuals might associate those numbers with violent intent, saying, "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."
The Secret Service took the allegations seriously, with spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stating on X, “We vigorously investigate anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees. We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI Director & we take rhetoric like this very seriously.” He also emphasized that they would not comment on specific protective intelligence matters.
Following Comey's post, current FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the situation on social media, confirming that the bureau was aware of the post directed at President Trump. He added, “We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with the Secret Service on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”
Secretary Noem reiterated her concerns on X, accusing Comey of calling for Trump’s assassination. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Comey was inciting "bad actors/terrorists" to harm the President while he was on an international tour in the Middle East. Additionally, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., weighed in, stating, “James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered.”
James Comey's tenure as the FBI Director lasted from 2013 to 2017 and was marked by significant controversy. He oversaw high-profile investigations, including the inquiry into Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's emails shortly before the 2016 election, which Trump ultimately won. Comey was later fired by Trump amid investigations into Russian interference in that election.
This recent incident underscores the ongoing political tensions and the serious nature of threats against public figures, especially in the current political climate. The Secret Service's investigation into Comey's post highlights the seriousness with which they approach potential threats to the safety of the President.
