“I didn’t realize I was linking those numbers to violence,” Comey said.
Secret Service investigates former FBI chief James Comey’s “8647” post
Former FBI director James Comey posted an image with the number “8647.”
A photograph of the shell and a series of four numbers put former FBI director James Comey into hot water.
Federal law enforcement officials said on May 15 that they were investigating an Instagram post depicting images of people reading “8647.”
Some supporters of President Donald Trump interpreted the post as a threat to Trump. Comey defeated the photo and said in a subsequent Instagram post he didn’t realize the message could be related to violence.
Federal law enforcement officials told USA Today on the condition of anonymity that the Secret Service would send agents to raise questions about his post.
Homeland Security Secretary Christie Noem, who oversees secret services, said at X the DHS and Secret Service “will investigate this threat and respond appropriately.”
Comey was in charge of the Department of Justice’s Investigation Division from 2013 until Trump was fired from 2017.
Here’s what you need to know about the post in question:
What did James Comey post? Photo includes “8647”
According to Reuters, in the now-deleted photo on Instagram, Comey posted No. 8647, formed by Seashells on the beach.
“A cool shell formation on my beach walk,” Comey said.
In a subsequent post on May 15th, Comey said she saw the shells on the beach walk and assumed it was just a political message.
“I didn’t realize I was linking those numbers to violence. It never happened to me, but I’m opposed to any kind of violence, so I removed the post,” Comey said.
What does “8647” mean? The message that could be behind Comey’s post
Comey’s post was interpreted by those who say “86” No. 47. Trump is the 47th president.
According to Merriam-Webster, “86” is used as a colloquial term meaning “to throw away”, “exclude”, or “reject service.”
The origin of the term is debated, and one theory states that it came from when Barkeeps threw up a disorderly guest from a previous New York bar called Chumley’s at 86 Bedford St.
Another version cited in the book “The History and Stories of the Best Bars in New York” was that during the ban, there was no need for police to oust Chumley bartenders from the “86” patrons through the door of 86 Bedford and arrest them.
Merriam-Webster says the term came from soda counter slang in the 1930s. This means that items are sold out and may have originated from the phrase “Nix,” which is still used by wait staff at restaurants and bars.
Contribution: Josh Meyer, USA Today
Melina Kahn is a national trending reporter for USA Today. She can be contacted at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
