FBI Diverts Agents From Child, Drug Cases Investigating Comey Copycat Threats

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that the bureau has been overwhelmed investigating numerous "copycat" threats following former FBI Director James Comey's controversial Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to form "86 47," which many Republicans interpreted as a veiled threat against President Donald Trump. Patel stated that the surge in such threats has forced the FBI to divert agents and analysts away from critical investigations into child sex crimes, drug trafficking, and terrorism. Patel criticized Comey for making a political statement that has undermined the bureau's credibility and demoralized agents, emphasizing that this has created a significant operational burden. The Secret Service interviewed Comey after the post, which he later deleted, but Comey maintains that the image was innocent and does not anticipate legal consequences. Patel described the challenge as ongoing, with copycat threats appearing nationwide on social media, exacerbating the FBI's workload. Overall, Patel framed Comey's actions as irresponsible and damaging to national security efforts.