Feds investigating whether Comey post was threat on Trump

(The Center Square) – Federal authorities are investigating whether a message posted on social media by former FBI Director James Comey was meant to be a threat against President Donald Trump.

Comey, who was fired by Trump in his first term, posted an image on Instagram Thursday of seashells in the sand spelling the numbers "8647."

The number "86" often is used to refer to getting rid of something, including an individual. Trump is the 47th (and 45th) U.S. president. 

Accompanying the "8647" image was a message Comey captioned the post with: "Cool shell formation on my beach walk…" he wrote.

Current FBI Director Kash Patel responded late Thursday on X.

"We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump," Patel posted. "We are in communication with the Secret Service and [Secret Service] Director [Sean] Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support."

Comey later took the image down and posted a message on Instagram: "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 realize 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."

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Trump faced two assassination attempts last year during the runup to the November presidential election. At a campaign rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, a sniper fired on Trump from a nearby roof, grazing his ear and killing a spectator.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that the Secret Service and DHS were investigating.

Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, confirmed the agency was aware of Comey's posts.

"The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees," he said in a statement. "We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI director and we take rhetoric like this very seriously." 

Guglielmi said the Secret Services does not comment on protective intelligence matters.

Comey oversaw the investigation of the now debunked claims that Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 presidential campaign.