Ex-FBI Director Comey Denies Assassination Call Over Instagram Post

Former FBI Director James Comey addressed the controversy surrounding his Instagram post showing shells arranged as "86 47," which some, including former President Donald Trump, interpreted as a call for assassination. Comey explained that he and his wife found the shell arrangement on a beach and saw it as a political message, with "86" being restaurant slang for removing an item or leaving a place, not a call for violence. Despite finding the post innocent, Comey took it down after learning people online viewed it as advocating violence. He described the Secret Service interview that followed as professional and expressed regret only for the distraction the post caused, not for sharing the image initially. The incident drew attention from Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and FBI Director Kash Patel, highlighting the tense political atmosphere. Comey remains bewildered by the reaction but emphasized his opposition to violence in any form.