Secret Service brokers query Comey about his Trump social media publish

Secret Service brokers interviewed former FBI director James Comey on Friday concerning his “8647” social media publish that administration officers known as a dying menace in opposition to President Trump and Comey known as a political assertion.  

“Right this moment, federal brokers from @SecretService interviewed disgraced former FBI Director Comey concerning a social media publish calling for the assassination of President Trump,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X Friday. “I’ll proceed to take all measures essential to make sure the safety of @POTUS Trump. That is an ongoing investigation.” 

A lawyer for Comey declined to remark.

Comey, a longtime Trump critic, deleted the photograph — which confirmed seashells organized within the form of “8647”— inside hours. He stated it was a political message, not a violent one.

“I didn’t understand some people affiliate these numbers with violence,” Comey wrote on Instagram. “It by no means occurred to me however I oppose violence of any sort so I took the publish down.” 

In an interview with Fox Information on Friday, Trump stated that he believes Comey “knew precisely what he meant.”

“A baby is aware of what that meant… that meant ‘assassination,’” Trump stated. “And it says it loud and clear. He wasn’t very competent, however he was competent sufficient to know what that meant.”

Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated on Thursday that Comey must be jailed. 

“I’m very involved for the president’s life; we’ve already seen assassination makes an attempt,” Gabbard stated on Fox Information. “I’m very involved for his life and James Comey, for my part, must be held accountable and put behind bars for this.”

Trump survived two assassination makes an attempt in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign. In July, he was wounded within the ear at a marketing campaign rally in Butler, PA, after a gunman shot at him from a close-by rooftop earlier than being killed by Secret Service snipers.

Two months later, a person aimed a rifle at Trump’s safety element whereas he was {golfing} in Florida. The person fled, was arrested and charged with making an attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate.

That means of “eighty-six” 

The time period “eighty-six” is an expression utilized in eating places which means to “refuse to serve” or “reject or ban” a buyer, to “take away (an merchandise) from a menu,” or to “reject, discontinue, or do away with (one thing),” in accordance with Merriam-Webster. It dates again to the Thirties. 

Republican politicians have used “86” in social media posts themselves prior to now. Final yr, former Florida Republican congressman Matt Gaetz posted on X, “We’ve now 86’d: McCarthy McDaniel McConnell Higher days are forward for the Republican Get together.” 

The tweet referred to former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy, former Republican Nationwide Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, and former Senator majority chief Mitch McConnell, who had all left management posts within the Republican occasion. 

On Friday, Gaetz advised the Unbiased that his used of “86” was totally different than Comey’s. “I used to be talking prior to now tense about issues that had already occurred,” Gaetz stated. “Comey was placing out a name for future motion. These are distinct.”

In 2022, conservative activist Jack Posobiec posted on X, “86 46,” an obvious reference to Joe Biden, the forty sixth president. Posobiec didn’t reply to a request for remark, in accordance with the Unbiased.

For months, the 8647 quantity sequence has been used and seen on anti-Trump t-shirts, buttons and different merchandise offered on Amazon and Etsy—a few of that are nonetheless out there for buy—in addition to signage on “Fingers Off” protests throughout the nation. Amazon and Etsy additionally promote gadgets with the phrases “8646” on them, referring to Biden. 

Throughout Trump’s first time period, the numerical sequence was used as properly. In 2020, Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, was criticized after a pin with the numbers “8645” appeared on a desk behind her throughout a tv interview. 

On the time, Trump was the forty fifth president. Whitmer denied that the time period meant “assassinate.”

After staffers in a Virginia restaurant requested White Home Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to depart in 2018, staffers wrote “86 — Sarah Huckabee Sanders,” of their in a single day be aware, Politifact reported.  

A former federal prosecutor who has investigated a number of menace circumstances in opposition to authorities officers stated that Comey had not dedicated against the law. He stated the federal prison statute banning dying threats in opposition to the president requires a person to “knowingly and willingly” make an specific menace “to take the lifetime of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily hurt.” 

The previous prosecutor, who spoke on situation of anonymity, citing worry of retaliation, stated Comey’s publish doesn’t come near assembly that authorized threshold. 

“He didn’t commit against the law, “the previous prosecutor stated. “He gave his enemies a gap.”