The U.S. Secret Service reportedly interviewed former FBI Director James Comey on Friday after he posted a picture depicting “86 47,” according to multiple outlets.
Comey swiftly faced backlash online Thursday after posting a picture on his Instagram with shells in the formation of “86 47.” With multiple officials saying Thursday that the issue would be investigated, Comey was reportedly seen leaving the Secret Service’s Washington, D.C. field office on Friday, according to the New York Post.
In his original post, which has now been deleted, Comey said he found the “cool shell formation” while walking on the beach. Figures like Trump’s senior advisor Dan Scavino Jr. and Donald Trump Jr. took to X to call out the message, as many said it was a threat to President Donald Trump’s life.
The term “86” is commonly referred to as “get rid of” or “throw out,” according to Merriam-Webster.
Shortly after posting, Comey took down the photo and said he decided to remove it after realizing “some folks associate those numbers with violence.”
“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 of any kind so I took the post down,” Comey wrote.
Despite the removal, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X that the department and Secret Service would open an investigation, adding that Comey had “called for the assassination” of the 47th president.
In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Friday, Trump responded to Comey’s post saying that the former director knew what he meant when he uploaded the image.
“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant … that meant ‘assassination,’” Trump said.
On Thursday, Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said that the agency is aware of the post, but he would not further comment as the investigation is ongoing.
“We vigorously investigate anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees. We are aware of the social media posts by the former FBI Director & we take rhetoric like this very seriously. Beyond that, we do not comment on protective intelligence matters,” Guglielmi wrote.
The Secret Service did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation for comment.
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