Former FBI Director James Comey is under federal investigation following an Instagram post that some interpret as a veiled threat against President Donald Trump. The post featured a photograph of seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647,” which critics allege combines “86”—slang for “eliminate”—with “47,” referencing Trump as the 47th U.S. president.
Comey captioned the image as a “cool shell formation” and later deleted it, stating he was unaware of the violent connotation associated with the numbers. He emphasized his opposition to violence in a follow-up post.
The Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security are investigating the matter. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other officials have expressed concern, interpreting the post as a potential threat.
This incident has reignited tensions between Comey and Trump, stemming from Comey’s dismissal in 2017 during the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
