Former FBI director Comey under investigation for alleged threat against Trump

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Former FBI Director James Comey is being investigated by the Secret Service after making social media posts that suggested a call for violence against President Donald Trump.

Trump fired Comey during his first term as president in 2017.

In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating the social media post.

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.

The post has since been deleted. Comey subsequently wrote, “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,” Comey added, “but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

According to Merriam-Webster, 86 is slang for "to get rid of," "to throw out," or "to refuse service to." It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

Donald Trump Jr. went to social media, accusing Comey of calling for his father's killing.

Kash Patel, the current FBI Director, said he was aware of the post and was conferring with the Secret Service and its director.

James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, noted that the post came at a delicate time given that Trump is traveling in the Middle East.

Trump is expected to be back in Washington, D.C., Friday night.

“This is a Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists & hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East,” Blair wrote on X.

Comey is now a crime fiction writer and is promoting his latest book, “FDR Drive,” which is being released on Tuesday.

Editor's Note:The Associated Press contributed to this story.