Trump administration officials say Secret Service is investigating James Comey's '86 47' social media post

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Trump administration officials say Secret Service is investigating Comey’s ’86 47' social media post

Updated 8:39 PM EDT, May 15, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans suggest is a call for violence against President Donald Trump.

In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/comey-trump-threat-shells-deleted-post-39b37b1d36c0463d3dad41a3d1339d4e

[Eugene]

1. Former FBI Director James Comey takes down Instagram post after conservative uproar

Source: CNN

Former FBI Director James Comey takes down Instagram post after conservative uproar

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN
3 minute read
Published 8:11 PM EDT, Thu May 15, 2025

(CNN) — Former Director of the FBI James Comey on Thursday took down an Instagram post of seashells spelling out the numbers “86 47” after Republicans claimed that it was a threat against President Donald Trump.

The number 86 can often refer to getting rid of or tossing something out, while 47 corresponds to Trump’s current term in office as the 47th president.

“Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!” Donald Trump Jr. posted on social media.

Comey – who emerged as a Trump critic after the president fired him early in his first term – denied that the picture was a call for violence.

-snip-

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/15/politics/james-comey-instagram-post-donald-trump-uproar

[Ocelot II]

2. Oh, FFS!

I'm not Comey's biggest fan, but investigating him over that? This is really getting chilling.

[ananda]

11. Well, look at what they're doing to the judges...

who dare to stand up for what is right...

like Hannah Dugan and Tish James.

[BlueTsunami2018]

3. Whatever.

I have no sympathy for him.

[Ocelot II]

6. So if someone is investigated by the FBI for expressing a political opinion,

that's OK as long as it's someone you don't like? We all ought to be concerned about what Bondi is trying to do here, even it it's against Comey (who actually expressed an opinion we'd agree with).

[BlueTsunami2018]

9. This is the reality he enabled.

Of course it’s not “ok” but maybe he should have thought about the consequences of his actions. It was clear that this sort of thing was inevitable.

If it’s going to happen anyway, and it is, the people who helped make this happen should suffer first and most.

[NH Ethylene]

4. Are they nostalgiac for the days Trump had a bandage on his ear?

Do they think if they drum up a few assassination 'attempts' we'll all forget about the Palace jet 'gift'? Or the big budget cuts on the table to fund tax cuts for the rich?

[barbtries]

5. oh FFS nt

[newdeal2]

7. It's just a joke, guys. Chill out

That should be the response to this BS. Especially after all the nastiness that's come out of Trump's mouth.

[RockRaven]

8. I'm reminded of a (now 30 year old!) song...

I wish TCF would have to hear this blasting when he shuffles out of the WH for the last time, whatever the circumstances.

https://m.

Lyrics:

What brings you around?
Did you lose something the last time you were here?
You'll never find it now
It's buried deep with your identity

So stand aside and let the next one pass
Don't let the door kick you in the ass

There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
Don't even try

Exit out the back
And never show your head around again
Purchase your ticket
And quickly take the last train out of town

So stand aside and let the next one pass
Don't let the door kick you in the ass

There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
Don't even try

There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
There's no return from 86
Don't even try

[moondust]

10. Ridiculous.

BBC: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem alleged the message was a call for the assassination of Trump...

Maybe somebody should educate her that "86" just means giving somebody the boot--like a bouncer kicking a drunken troublemaker out of a bar. In this case: impeach or 25th Amendment the lying, grifting, coup plotting, racist felon.

[JCMach1]

15. Meme and protest sign suggestion for Noem

86 and a picture of Noem with a K9

Use it for any administration member

[UTUSN]

12. He's not our hero but KRASNOV's retaliation is obscene authoritarianism. Funny how *his* code talk

is way explicit and in plain sight like all of his crimes and slimes right by.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

13. Maddow Blog-Team Trump finds an excuse to do what it's long wanted to do: investigate James Comey

It’s possible that Republicans are sincerely outraged by the former FBI director's seashell code, but recent history suggests some skepticism is in order.
https://bsky.app/profile/stevebenen.com

When it comes to the manufactured apoplexy surrounding James Comey, it's worth remembering that Trump has spent years demanding investigations into the former FBI director.

His "8647" seashells on Instagram simply gave Team Trump an excuse to do it wanted to do anyway.

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-finds-excuse-s-long-wanted-investigate-james-comey-rcna207219

Nearly five years later, a similar story has emerged, and as NBC News reported, it’s generating an even more robust response.

The Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service are investigating a social media post by former FBI Director James Comey that several U.S. officials interpreted as calling for the assassination of President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday.

Evidently, Comey shared a photo on Instagram showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647.” Republican officials soon after responded with apoplexy, at which point the former FBI director — himself a lifelong Republican — deleted the post and said, “I didn’t realize some folks associate it with violence. That didn’t occur to me when I saw it but I am opposed to violence in all circumstances so I took it down.”

Comey added soon after that he simply assumed that the numbers “were a political message.”....

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Fox News and said she wants to see Comey “put behind bars for this.” A variety of GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, scrambled to toe the party line and condemn the former FBI director.

Trump himself ultimately joined the parade, in predictably Trumpian fashion.
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:4llrhdclvdlmmynkwsmg5tdc/post/3lpc47zkqk22g

Link to tweet

......When the president first arrived in the White House eight years ago, he saw Comey as an ally — Trump appeared to literally blow a kiss at the then-FBI director at a White House event in January 2017 — thanks in part to Comey’s role in undermining Hillary Clinton’s 2016 candidacy. In time, however, Trump soured on Comey, and ultimately fired him in the hopes of derailing the FBI’s investigation into the president’s Russia scandal.

In the years that followed, Trump continued to target the former FBI director, accusing Comey of “treason,” and even calling for his prosecution over unidentified crimes.

As recently as a few months ago, just days after Trump loyalist Kash Patel was sworn in as the FBI’s newest director, the conservative Washington Times reported that the bureau had opened an investigation into Comey’s role in the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign.

In other words, Team Trump has long seen Comey as a villain who should be targeted and investigated. His since-deleted Instagram post appears to have given the president’s operation an excuse to do what it wanted to do anyway.

Comey is an idiot. Comey's press conference on the Clinton email investigation was unethical and got trump elected. Comey's stupidity may be a valid defense if charges are brought.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. I can't believe the FBI never investigated these calls for assassinations for Biden.

Link to tweet