The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service are investigating a now-deleted Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey, which some officials interpreted as a call for the assassination of President Donald Trump. Comey’s post featured a photo of a “shell formation” on a beach, with the numbers “8647,” which sparked outrage when administration officials and Republican lawmakers suggested it targeted the president. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the post as a blatant threat, citing the informal meaning of “eighty-six” as “to get rid of.”
A spokesperson for the Secret Service stated that the agency takes any potential threats against its protectees seriously and is actively investigating the incident. Taylor Budowich, a White House deputy chief of staff, accused Comey of making an implicit threat against Trump and expressed deep concern over the implications of the post. Donald Trump Jr. also criticized Comey, claiming he appeared to advocate for violence against his father.
In response, Comey denied that his post was intended as a threat, stating he was unaware of any violent associations with the numbers and emphasized his opposition to violence. Following these events, some officials, including Rep. Tim Burchett, called for Comey’s arrest, while others suggested more extreme actions against him.
This incident comes years after Comey was terminated by Trump in 2017, shortly after the FBI began investigating potential links between Trump’s campaign and Russian entities, a move that was heavily criticized and believed to be motivated by Comey’s handling of a separate investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email practices.
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