Washington DC [US]: The United States Secret Service has launched an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey after he allegedly incited violence against President Donald Trump through a now-deleted Instagram post, according to a report by The New York Post.
Comey, who was fired by Trump during his first term, posted a photo of seashells arranged in the shape of the number “8647.” The number raised alarms due to its perceived hidden meaning: “86” is slang for eliminating or discarding someone or something, and “47” is interpreted as a reference to Trump, the 47th President of the United States.
Comey had captioned the photo:
“Cool shell formation on my beach walk,” reported The New York Post.
The post, though brief and ambiguous, quickly drew condemnation from Trump allies and government officials. Donald Trump Jr. reacted strongly, accusing Comey of calling for his father’s assassination:
“Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Federal Response
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the agency is cooperating with the Secret Service in its probe.
“We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support,” Patel posted on X.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also weighed in, calling Comey’s post a dangerous provocation:
“Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” she wrote on X.
Comey’s Response
Following the intense backlash, Comey issued a statement on Instagram, denying any violent intent and claiming he misinterpreted the message of the shell formation:
“I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realise 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.”
Background
James Comey served as FBI Director from 2013 to 2017, overseeing high-profile investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton’s email controversy. His handling of both cases drew bipartisan criticism, and his dismissal by President Trump triggered national scrutiny and the subsequent appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Neither Trump nor Clinton faced charges as a result of the investigations.