According to The New York Post, the United States Secret Service has opened an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey after allegations that he encouraged violence against President Donald Trump in a now-deleted Instagram post.
Comey, who was fired by Trump during his first term in office, had posted a picture of seashells arranged to form the number 8647.
The number provoked anxiety, since 86 is frequently used as slang for eliminating something or ejecting someone, especially in restaurants and bars while referring to menu items. The number 47 is thought to allude to Trump, the 47th President of the United States.
Cool shell formation on my beach stroll, Comey captioned the photo, according to the New York Post.
Officials from the Trump administration, including President Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. , considered Comey's position a threat to the president's life.
Following Comey's social media message, FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the organization is coordinating with the US Secret Service. Patel stated that the FBI will completely support the Secret Service's inquiry into the letter, which allegedly targeted President Trump.
We are aware of former FBI Director James Comey's recent social media post directed at President Trump, Patel stated in a tweet. We are in touch with the Secret Service and Director Curran. The SS has primary jurisdiction over these issues, and the FBI will give all required assistance.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem denounced Comey, accusing him of encouraging violence against President Trump. Noem stated that the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service are currently investigating the issue and will take appropriate measures.
According to Noem's post on X, disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just requested the death of @POTUS Trump. DHS and the Secret Service are looking into this danger and will react as necessary.
Donald Trump Jr. attacked Comey, claiming that he advocated for the assassination of his father, President Trump.
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, Just James Comey casually calling for my father to be murdered. This is who the DemMedia worships. Demented.
Comey reacted to the outrage over his message. Comey stated in a statement posted on Instagram that he posted a picture of shells arranged in numbers, believing it was a political message, and that he was unaware that the numbers might be connected to violence.
I previously shared a shot of some shells I saw on a beach trip today, which I believe were a political message. I had no idea that certain individuals link those digits with bloodshed. It never occurred to me, yet I oppose all forms of violence, so I removed the post, according to Comey in a statement published on Instagram, according to the New York Post.
On September 4, 2013, James Comey was sworn in as the FBI's seventh director. He led important investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election and Hillary Clinton's email scandal before being sacked by Trump in May 2017, shortly after the president began his first term. For more than three years, he worked in the position. Republicans and Democrats have both strongly criticized the former FBI director for his investigations into Trump and Clinton, as well as how he handled each in the public sphere. According to CNN, neither inquiry resulted in indictments against the two individuals.
