FBI Director Kash Patel blasts former Director James Comey for triggering a nationwide wave of threats against President Trump that has forced agents to abandon critical child predator and drug trafficking cases.
Key Takeaways
- James Comey’s controversial “86 47” Instagram post has been interpreted as a threat against President Trump, with “86” meaning to remove and “47” referring to Trump as the 47th president.
- FBI Director Kash Patel revealed the post has inspired numerous “copycat” threats, forcing the FBI to divert agents from critical investigations into child sex predators and drug trafficking.
- Comey claims the post was “totally innocent,” stating he found the numbers already arranged in seashells on a beach and did not create them himself.
- The Secret Service opened an investigation into the post, with Comey voluntarily appearing for an interview, though he maintains there was no malicious intent.
- The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Trump administration officials and Comey, who was fired during Trump’s first term.
National Security Resources Diverted to Handle Threat Surge
FBI Director Kash Patel has revealed that a controversial Instagram post by former Director James Comey has sparked a wave of threatening copycat messages against President Trump, creating a significant strain on bureau resources. During an appearance on Fox News, Patel expressed frustration over having to reassign agents from critical investigations to address the surge in potential threats that emerged following Comey’s May 15 post featuring seashells arranged to read “86 47” – widely interpreted as a coded threat against the president.
“Do you know how many copycats we’ve had to investigate as a result of that beachside venture from the former director?” Patel stated. “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 [Comey] did it,” said Kash Patel, FBI Director.
While the FBI has not released specific numbers regarding the increase in threats, Patel emphasized that the surge has created significant operational challenges. “That’s what I’m having to deal with every single day,” he added, highlighting the real-world consequences of what Comey has characterized as an innocent post. The situation underscores growing concerns about the impact of social media posts by high-profile figures and their potential to inspire threatening behavior.
Comey Claims Innocence Despite Obvious Implications
James Comey has maintained that his now-deleted Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to display “86 47” was not intended as a threat against President Trump. According to Comey, he and his wife discovered the shells already arranged on a beach and simply photographed them. When questioned about the post’s potential meaning, Comey offered conflicting explanations that have drawn skepticism from critics and investigators alike.
“I said: ‘That’s really clever,” James Comey, Former FBI Director.
In his defense, Comey has claimed ignorance about the widely understood slang meaning of “86” – to remove or get rid of something – suggesting he thought it merely meant “to get out of a place.” This explanation has been met with disbelief given Comey’s extensive law enforcement background. The post’s timing and content have raised serious questions about his intentions, especially considering his well-documented animosity toward President Trump following his dismissal during Trump’s first term.
Ongoing Investigation and Political Fallout
The Secret Service opened an investigation into Comey’s post shortly after it appeared online, with the former FBI director voluntarily participating in an interview. While Comey has expressed doubt that the Trump administration will take further action against him, the incident has intensified already strained relations between Comey and current administration officials. Prior to this controversy, Comey had publicly questioned Patel’s qualifications to lead the FBI.
“Obviously, you start with the fact that the guy has literally nothing in his entire adult life that prepares him for this role. And so, that’s deeply concerning to start with,” said James Comey, Former FBI Director.
This latest clash highlights the continuing political divisions within the law enforcement community. Comey has positioned himself as a defender of the rule of law against what he perceives as threats from the Trump administration, stating, “The rule of law is still our saving grace.” Meanwhile, Director Patel’s concerns focus on the tangible security challenges and resource allocation problems created by what he views as Comey’s reckless social media behavior, emphasizing the real-world consequences for critical national security operations.
