Secret Service Investigates James Comey Over Alleged Threat to Trump

The Secret Service is investigating James Comey after he shared and deleted an Instagram post of seashells paired with a number that has violent connotations. Amid claims from officials that he incited violence against Trump, Comey stated he opposes such acts.

Former FBI director James Comey has found himself at the center of a controversy leading to an investigation by the Secret Service. This follows a social media post he shared earlier, which some Republican figures interpreted as a threat against President Trump. In the now-deleted Instagram post, Comey showcased a photo of seashells arranged to spell out the numbers "8647" and captioned it, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."

The number "86" has multiple interpretations, including slang meanings such as "to reject" or, more recently, "to kill," according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Given that 47 corresponds to Trump being the 47th President, allegations arose that the post could incite violence. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed it was a call for assassination. However, Comey quickly distanced himself from such interpretations, asserting he opposes violence and was unaware of the associations surrounding the numbers.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesperson for the Secret Service, stated, "We vigorously investigate anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees." He further confirmed awareness of Comey’s social media activity and reiterated the seriousness with which they treat such rhetoric.

After deleting the post, Comey expressed confusion, stating, "I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me." Following Comey’s actions, both current and former FBI officials became involved, with the current FBI Director Kash Patel noting they were in communication with the Secret Service about the situation.

Noem took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Comey of practically calling for Trump's assassination, drawing more attention to the controversy. Meanwhile, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., reacted on the platform by suggesting Comey was irresponsibly encouraging violence against his father.

Comey’s tenure as FBI director from 2013 to 2017 was marked by notable conflicts, including a significant investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails and his subsequent dismissal by Trump amidst a probe into Russian election interference. As the situation unfolds, the scrutiny surrounding his recent social media activity raises questions not only about Comey's judgment but also about the broader implications of political discourse in today's hyper-connected environment.