Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-AR) has officially urged FBI Director Kash Patel to initiate an inquiry into former FBI Director James Comey. This request follows a mysterious social media post from Comey that stated ’86 47,’ which many interpreted as a possible threat towards President Donald Trump.
Comey, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama and served as FBI director until his dismissal by Trump in 2017, posted a picture on Instagram on Thursday featuring seashells arranged to spell out ’86 47.’
The term ’86’ is frequently utilized in both the hospitality sector and within military and intelligence circles. It signifies the cancellation of an order or can refer to the act of killing, murdering, or executing in a judicial context, as defined by Cassell’s Dictionary of Slang.
Following accusations that he was advocating for the assassination of the president, Comey removed his post and issued an apology, which Trump and many of his supporters have entirely dismissed: ‘Earlier, I shared a photograph of some shells I encountered during a beach walk, which I presumed conveyed a political message. I was unaware that some individuals associate those numbers with violence. It never crossed my mind, but I am against any form of violence, so I deleted the post.’
Patel later revealed that he had been informed of Comey’s questionable post, indicating that his bureau is ‘in communication’ with the Secret Service and Director Sean Curran. Reports suggest that Comey has been questioned by the Secret Service, although the results of those discussions remain uncertain.
As initially reported by Breitbart News, Senator Cotton sent a letter to Patel on Friday, requesting a review of all FBI actions involving former Director James Comey. Cotton’s correspondence highlighted Comey’s tendency to politicize investigations, his involvement in leaks, and his apparent bias against the Trump administration and its supporters.
The Arkansas Republican referenced Trump’s reaction to Comey’s earlier statement, where Trump interpreted ’86 47′ as a call for assassination. ‘He understood the implication,’ Trump remarked during an interview with Bret Baier on Friday. ‘Even a child would grasp its meaning. If you are the FBI director and fail to comprehend that, it clearly signifies assassination.
He was not entirely incompetent, but he was certainly aware of the implications. He acted with intent and faced backlash because individuals like myself supported the direction our country was taking. Ultimately, he is inciting calls for the assassination of the president.
Trump remarked, ‘I prefer not to take a stance on this matter; it will be up to Pam [Bondi] and the esteemed individuals involved. However, I must express that I believe it is a grave issue. Considering his background, if he had a clean record, which he does not, he would be considered a corrupt officer. If he had a clean history, I could comprehend a degree of leniency, but I will allow them to make that determination.’
Cotton referenced Trump’s statement, highlighting that the President was aware of its implications. Additionally, Cotton expressed gratitude to the Secret Service for their swift action regarding the perceived threat.
A congressional source informed Brietbart that James Comey is under scrutiny for potential subpoenas, and failure to comply may result in criminal charges, with Congressional Republicans determined to pursue this matter.
Another source remarked, ‘Fortunately, President Trump has supporters such as Tom Cotton who are willing to confront the erratic and discredited James Comey.’
