Ex-FBI chief James Comey accused of threatening Trump in since-deleted ‘8647’ Instagram post: ‘Deeply concerning’
The Secret Service is currently investigating former FBI Director James Comey following accusations that he called for violence against President Trump in a now-deleted Instagram post.
In the controversial post, Comey shared an image of seashells arranged in the shape of the numbers “8647.” The number “86” is often used as slang to mean getting rid of something or ejecting someone, with “47” representing Trump as the 47th president of the United States.
The post was quickly interpreted by Trump administration officials and the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., as a potential death threat against the commander in chief. White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich expressed deep concern over the post, labeling it as a message that could be interpreted as a hit on the sitting president.
Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter to denounce Comey’s post, accusing him of casually calling for his father’s assassination. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the Secret Service is now involved in investigating the matter.
In response to the backlash, Comey claimed that he did not realize some would view the post as a call for violence. He stated that he thought the numbers were a political message and promptly took down the post when he became aware of the violent connotations associated with them.
It’s worth noting that President Trump has faced assassination attempts in the past, with a failed attempt in Butler, Pa., last July resulting in injuries to two individuals and one fatality. Another potential assassin was thwarted outside Trump’s golf course in Palm Beach, Fla., armed with a rifle but was stopped by a vigilant Secret Service agent.
The Secret Service and Comey’s publisher have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. The investigation continues as authorities look into the implications of Comey’s Instagram post and its potential threat to the safety of the president.
