Comey Post SPARKS Threat Surge — FBI Scrambles

FBI Director Kash Patel reveals agents have been pulled from critical cases tracking child predators and terrorists to investigate copycat threats sparked by James Comey’s controversial “86 47” Instagram post.

Key Takeaways

• Former FBI Director James Comey posted a photo showing “86 47” in seashells, widely interpreted as a coded threat against President Trump (the 47th president)
• FBI Director Kash Patel stated the post triggered numerous copycat threats, forcing reassignment of agents from vital cases involving child predators and drug trafficking
• Comey claims the post was “totally innocent” and that he didn’t arrange the shells, despite acknowledging “86” is slang for removing something
• The Secret Service opened an investigation into the post, which Comey later deleted after significant backlash
• The incident highlights ongoing tensions between former FBI leadership and the current Trump administration

FBI Resources Diverted to Handle Threat Surge After Comey’s Post

FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly condemned former FBI Director James Comey for a controversial Instagram post that has dramatically increased security threats against President Trump. During a Fox News appearance, Patel revealed that Comey’s May 15 social media post showing “86 47” in seashells has triggered a wave of copycat threats nationwide, forcing the FBI to redirect valuable resources away from critical investigations. The post was widely interpreted as a veiled threat against Trump, as “86” is slang for removing someone and “47” refers to Trump as the 47th president.

“Do you know how many copycats we’ve had to investigate as a result of that beachside venture from the former director?” Patel said during his Fox News interview. “Do you know how many agents I’ve had to take offline from chasing down child sex predators, fentanyl traffickers, terrorists… because everywhere across this country people are popping up on social media and think that a threat to the life of the president of the United States is a joke… and they can do it because did it?” asked Kash Patel, FBI Director.

While the FBI has not released specific numbers regarding the increase in threats since Comey’s post, Patel emphasized that the situation has created a significant strain on the bureau’s operational capacity. The surge in threats has forced the agency to make difficult resource allocation decisions, potentially compromising investigations into serious crimes, including child exploitation, drug trafficking, and terrorism. This reallocation of resources demonstrates the serious real-world consequences of what Comey has described as a misunderstanding.

Comey Claims Innocence Despite Coded Message Interpretation

Comey has maintained that the post was completely innocent, claiming that he and his wife simply discovered the seashell arrangement during a beach walk and didn’t create it themselves. After the post drew immediate criticism, Comey deleted it and attempted to explain that he didn’t intend it as a threat. However, in his explanations, Comey acknowledged that he understood “86” as slang for removing something, raising questions about his awareness of the post’s potential interpretation.

“My wife and I were walking on the beach, and saw those numbers in shells on the beach, Somebody else did it!” said James Comey, Former FBI Director.

President Trump interpreted the message as a clear call for assassination. The Secret Service subsequently opened an investigation into the post, with Comey voluntarily appearing for an interview. Despite this investigation, Comey has stated he does not expect further action from the Trump administration. The incident has further deteriorated the already strained relationship between Comey and Trump, which first soured during Trump’s first term when Comey was fired from his position as FBI Director.

Ongoing Tension Between Former and Current FBI Leadership

The controversy has highlighted the continuing animosity between former FBI leadership and the Trump administration. Before this incident, Comey had publicly questioned Patel’s qualifications to lead the FBI during a CNN interview, stating: “Obviously, you start with the fact that the guy has nothing in his entire adult life that prepares him for this role. And so, that’s deeply concerning to start with.” This criticism came before Patel was officially leading the bureau, revealing the pre-existing tensions between the two men.

“That’s what I’m having to deal with every single day,” said Kash Patel, FBI Director.

The situation represents a significant challenge for the FBI under Patel’s leadership, as the bureau attempts to balance addressing legitimate security threats against the President while maintaining its focus on critical ongoing investigations. With limited resources being stretched thin due to the influx of copycat threats, Patel’s frustration with Comey’s actions reflects broader concerns about the responsible use of social media by former high-ranking government officials, especially those who once held positions responsible for national security.