Secret Service Questions Ex-FBI Director Comey Over '8647' Post

Former FBI Director James Comey is under federal investigation and was interviewed by the Secret Service over a now-deleted Instagram post showing seashells arranged to spell "86 47," a phrase interpreted by President Donald Trump and his allies as a coded threat suggesting assassination. Comey denied any harmful intent, stating he was unaware that the numbers could be linked to violence and removed the post while opposing violence of any kind. The Secret Service and Homeland Security are treating the post seriously and investigating it as a potential threat, emphasizing that rhetoric like this is taken very seriously to ensure the protection of Trump. Meanwhile, Ed Krassenstein, a social media figure known for baiting Trump, also faced a Secret Service visit after echoing Comey's post and defending the phrase as a political rallying call rather than a call for violence. Legal experts note that the post likely does not meet the legal standard for a criminal threat, but the investigation continues with public officials weighing in. Trump's reaction was strong, asserting that the phrase clearly indicated an assassination threat and criticizing Comey's explanation as incompetent.