Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey on Monday criticized President Donald Trump’s administration for what he termed a “distraction” surrounding a recent social media post depicting “86 47” with seashells.
The image, which some interpreted as a veiled assassination threat against the President, led to Comey being questioned by the U.S. Secret Service.
Speaking to MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, Comey reiterated that his only regret was the “distraction” created by the Trump administration’s reaction to the image. He explained that the picture, showing shells arranged to spell “86 47” on a beach, was an innocent observation during a walk with his wife.
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“We were walking on the beach… to prepare for this week, which was the launch of my book and to think about the book and to prepare to answer questions about it,” Comey recounted.
He described how his wife, Patrice, noticed the shells, and they pondered its meaning. Comey stated his wife, a former server, suggested “86” meant to remove an item from a menu, while he, as a child, understood it to mean “to leave a place.” He found the arrangement “clever” and posted it on Instagram, “thought nothing more of it.”
The post quickly drew criticism from Trump and his allies, who claimed “86 47” was a code for “assassinate Trump” (the 47th President). Comey has since deleted the post, stating, “I don’t, even if I think it’s crazy, I don’t want to be associated with violence of any kind.”
He confirmed receiving a call from the Secret Service the night of the post and voluntarily met with them in person the following day at their Washington field office. Comey described the agents as “pros.”
Despite the Secret Service inquiry, Comey maintained his belief that the seashell arrangement was a “political message” from an unknown artist and not a call for violence.
“I still think it is,” he asserted, adding, “I have a hard time believing it was anybody with a dark intention, and it certainly was no dark intention on my part of my spouse’s part.”
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When asked if he had any “gut check” about posting the picture given his contentious history with the Trump administration, Comey replied, “I regret the distraction and the controversy around it, but again, it’s hard to have regret about something that even in hindsight looks to me to be totally innocent.”
He said that he has been “investigated a lot, audited a lot” during the Trump era, stating, “it’s not my first rodeo.”
Comey further criticized what he views as the administration’s use of power to target individuals, citing his own experience with repeated investigations and an “IRS audit” that cost him thousands, though ultimately resulted in a refund.
He contrasted the current administration’s “very different crew” of officials with those from earlier in Trump’s presidency, suggesting the present group lacks “institutionalist principles” and is solely focused on working for the president.
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While acknowledging concerns about fair treatment from a Trump Justice Department, Comey expressed faith in the judiciary. “I believe in our Judiciary,” he stated, “that one remaining leg of our three-legged stool, that independent judiciary is alive and well and gives me great comfort.” He believes judges, appointed by various presidents and committed to the rule of law, would ensure fair proceedings.
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