Comey Faces Investigation Over Instagram '86 47' Post

Former FBI Director James Comey is under investigation by the Secret Service and FBI after posting an Instagram photo of seashells arranged as '86 47', interpreted by Trump allies as a coded threat against President Trump, the 47th president. The post sparked bipartisan outrage, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and House Republicans calling for Comey to be investigated or barred from federal employment, and a formal House resolution condemning his actions has been introduced. Comey deleted the post, denied any violent intent, and stated he was unaware of its possible connotations. Legal and linguistic experts largely agree that '86' typically means to remove or ban, though critics claim the message is irresponsible given recent political violence. The Secret Service and FBI are coordinating on the investigation, and the Department of Justice will decide if Comey's actions are prosecutable. The incident underscores heightened partisan tensions over political speech and coded messaging.