Former FBI director James B. Comey has been accused by President Donald Trump and his administration officials of issuing an assassination threat against him after a beach walk post went viral. In the Instagram post, Comey arranged seashells to spell “86 47,” which some interpreted as a message implying death or violence. However, Comey claimed in subsequent posts that he meant it as a harmless reference to the phrase “86,” meaning to reject or dismiss.
Trump insisted that Comey “knew exactly” what his post meant and accused him of calling for his assassination. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem also took issue with Comey’s post, stating that her department is investigating this threat. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the agency would provide support as part of the investigation.
However, some legal experts have questioned whether there is a case to make in court regarding Comey’s post, citing First Amendment protections for free speech. David Cole, a law professor at Georgetown University, stated that the Supreme Court has set a high standard for such cases and that the photo does not constitute a threat.
The controversy highlights the contentious relationship between Trump and Comey, who was ousted as FBI director in 2017 amidst investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Comey has also been accused of treason by Trump, although no charges have been filed. The incident adds to the long history of Trump’s own use of violent rhetoric and his criticism of perceived enemies, including journalists and politicians.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/16/james-comey-trump-86-fbi