Comey’s Cryptic Post Sparks Controversy: Did He Call for Violence?
Bucharest – October 26, 2024 –
A firestorm erupted after former FBI Director James Comey shared a cryptic Instagram post that has sparked controversy. The post, featuring seashells arranged to read “86 47,” was quickly interpreted by Trump administration officials as a veiled threat against the former President. The cryptic message has now triggered investigations by federal agencies, including Homeland Security and the Secret Service, underscoring the gravity of the situation and prompting scrutiny into the use of coded language. Experts are weighing in,so keep reading…
Comey’s Cryptic Post Sparks controversy: Did He Call for Violence?
A seemingly innocuous Instagram post by former FBI Director James Comey has ignited a firestorm, drawing sharp criticism from the Trump administration and prompting investigations by federal agencies. The controversy centers around a photo Comey posted,then deleted,featuring seashells arranged in the formation “86 47.”
The Image and Its Interpretation
The image, captured in screenshots by Trump administration officials, quickly became a focal point of debate.While Comey did not explicitly state the post’s meaning, officials and some observers interpreted the numbers as a veiled reference to President Trump, the 47th president, combined with the slang term “eighty-six,” which often signifies “eject” or “remove.”
Did you know? The term “eighty-six” has roots in 1930s soda counter slang, initially meaning an item was sold out. Its usage has since expanded to include removing a person or object.
Comey’s Response and deletion
Following the uproar, comey removed the image and offered an explanation in a subsequent Instagram post:
Posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. 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.
Despite Comey’s explanation, the Trump administration remained unconvinced, leading to further action.
Official Reactions and investigations
The post triggered immediate responses from key figures within the Trump administration, with some alleging a direct threat against the president.
-
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem: Accused Comey of calling for President Trump’s assassination, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that her agency and the Secret Service are
investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.
- FBI Director Kash Patel: Announced that the FBI was aware of Comey’s post and was in communication with the Secret Service and Director Sean Curran, emphasizing that primary jurisdiction rested with the Secret Service.
-
Secret Service Spokesperson: Affirmed that the agency
vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees
and takes such rhetoric seriously. -
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich: Asserted that Comey’s message
can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States
and is being taken seriously.
A History of Conflict
The incident is the latest chapter in a long-standing feud between Comey and Trump. comey served as FBI director from 2013 until his dismissal by Trump in 2017,a decision that ultimately led to Robert Mueller’s special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential coordination with the Trump campaign.
Pro Tip: The Mueller Report, while detailing numerous contacts between the Trump campaign and individuals with ties to Russia, did not establish sufficient evidence to conclude that the campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government.
Since his firing, Comey has been a vocal critic of Trump, even calling him morally unfit
to be president in a 2018 interview.
Past Threats Against Trump
The controversy surrounding Comey’s post also comes in the context of previous threats and assassination attempts against President Trump. During his presidential campaign last year, Trump was reportedly the target of two assassination attempts.
- July 13 Rally: A gunman opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear with a bullet. One attendee was killed, and two others were wounded.
- September 14 Incident: A man was arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach by aiming a rifle through shrubbery.
