Former FBI boss under investigation for 'threatening' Donald Trump in now-deleted Instagram post

 

Former FBI Director James Comey is at the center of a growing political and legal storm following allegations that a now-deleted Instagram post he shared amounted to a veiled threat against former President Donald Trump. The controversy has reignited long-standing tensions between the two men and triggered an official investigation into whether Comey’s post crossed a legal line.

The Post That Sparked a Firestorm

The Instagram post in question, shared briefly on Comey’s personal account earlier this month, depicted a serene beach scene with seashells arranged on the sand. What drew attention, however, was the numerical formation “86 47” formed by the shells—an apparent reference that some Trump allies say is anything but innocent.

To the untrained eye, it may appear like just a quirky caption. But to critics, particularly those aligned with Trump, the message is more sinister. The number “86” is widely used American slang for “eliminate” or “get rid of,” often used in restaurant jargon but also informally connoting erasure or disposal. The “47” is believed to refer to Donald Trump, who is running for a second term and could potentially become the 47th president if elected in 2024.

Within hours of posting, Comey deleted the image, but screenshots had already begun circulating widely across social media. The backlash was swift.

Legal and Political Repercussions

According to sources familiar with the matter, both the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service have launched a preliminary inquiry into the nature of Comey’s post. While no formal charges have been filed as of this writing, a Department of Justice official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that the post is being reviewed “in the context of existing federal laws governing threats against former presidents.”

“Regardless of intent, any public statement that may be interpreted as inciting violence against a former president is taken seriously,” the official said.

Comey, for his part, denied any malicious intent. In a brief statement to reporters outside his Virginia home, he said, “The post was meant as a whimsical nod to a shell formation I saw on a family vacation. I had no idea that people would assign such dark meaning to it. I took it down the moment I realized how it might be perceived.”

He added, “Violence has no place in politics—on either side.”

The Comey-Trump History

The investigation cannot be fully understood without revisiting the tumultuous relationship between Comey and Trump. Appointed FBI Director by President Barack Obama in 2013, Comey was dismissed by Trump in May 2017 amid tensions surrounding the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Comey later testified before Congress that Trump had pressured him for a “loyalty pledge” and urged him to “let go” of the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Trump, in turn, accused Comey of leaking classified information and being part of what he called the “deep state.”

Their public feud has remained bitter and personal, with Comey publishing a best-selling memoir in which he referred to Trump as “morally unfit” for the presidency.

Trump Allies React

Unsurprisingly, Trump supporters were quick to seize on the Instagram controversy. Republican Senator Josh Hawley called for an “immediate and thorough investigation” into Comey’s post, saying, “This is not some random Internet troll. This is a former top law enforcement official. If he thinks this kind of veiled language is acceptable, what message does that send?”

Former Trump adviser and current congressional candidate Kash Patel went further, accusing Comey of “weaponizing social media to incite political violence.” Others on conservative talk shows have gone so far as to suggest the post is evidence of a conspiracy to silence Trump.

Trump himself commented on the controversy during a rally in Florida, stating, “James Comey has always been a bad actor. Now he’s just saying the quiet part out loud.”

Legal Perspectives

Legal experts are divided on whether Comey’s post rises to the level of a criminal threat.

“The standard for prosecuting threats against public officials is quite high,” said Professor Lila Mendoza of Georgetown Law. “You have to demonstrate a true intent to threaten, not just an ambiguous message that can be interpreted in different ways.”

However, she added that the context matters. “Given Comey’s history with Trump, the post is not occurring in a vacuum. That may factor into how prosecutors view intent.”

Others argue that interpreting “86 47” as a call for violence may be a stretch.

“It’s provocative, sure,” said former federal prosecutor Alex Kramer. “But unless there’s additional evidence of intent or planning, it’s hard to see how this crosses into actionable territory.”

Broader Implications

The Comey post comes at a time of heightened political polarization in the U.S., with rhetoric on both sides increasingly charged. While some see the investigation as a necessary guardrail against political violence, others worry it could have a chilling effect on speech.

“This entire saga shows how hyper-politicized our public discourse has become,” said journalist Maria Lenz of the Washington Sentinel. “Even an Instagram post of seashells becomes a national security issue.”

What Happens Next

As of now, the investigation remains in its early stages. Comey has not been charged, and it’s unclear whether the inquiry will escalate or quietly fade away. Still, the episode is a stark reminder of how fraught the intersection of politics, law enforcement, and social media has become in modern America.

For Comey, a man who has lived under public scrutiny for much of the past decade, it may be just another chapter in a saga that shows no sign of ending.

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