Secret Service Grills Ex-FBI Director Comey Over Social Media 'Threat' to Trump
A controversial social media post has landed a former high-ranking official in the hot seat.
The US Secret Service is looking into rhetoric they consider potentially threatening towards President Trump.
Former FBI Chief Faces Questions
Former FBI Director James Comey was recently interviewed by Secret Service agents.
The meeting took place at the agency's field office in Washington, DC.
Sources indicate Comey appeared voluntarily and was not in custody.
But what exactly prompted the sit-down?
The Cryptic Online Post
The focus of the Secret Service's attention was a social media post Comey made earlier.
The post showed a photo of shells arranged on a beach.
The shells spelled out the numbers "86 47."
These numbers have become recognized online as a code.
"86" is often interpreted slang for getting rid of something or someone.
And "47" clearly refers to Donald Trump, who serves as the 47th President.
President Trump Weighs In Forcefully
President Trump and other Republicans quickly condemned the post.
They argued that the meaning of the numbers was unmistakable.
Trump himself offered a strong interpretation.
He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination.
Trump's comments highlighted the seriousness with which his allies viewed Comey's post.
Comey's Explanation
Following the backlash, Comey removed the post.
He offered an explanation on social media.
He stated he saw the shells on a beach walk and assumed they were a political message.
Comey claimed he didn't realize the numbers were associated with violence.
He wrote that it "never occurred" to him.
He added that he opposes violence of any kind, which is why he took the post down.
Protecting the President
The Secret Service is mandated to protect the President.
They take any potential threat seriously.
A spokesman confirmed the agency was aware of Comey's post.
The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees... We take rhetoric like this very seriously.
While legal experts suggest prosecuting such posts can be challenging under free speech laws, especially after recent court decisions, the agency's duty to investigate remains paramount.
A source familiar with the investigation indicated that while similar posts might not always lead to this level of scrutiny, the current political climate and Comey's profile likely heightened attention.
What Agents Wanted to Know
So, what was the core purpose of the interview with the former FBI Director?
According to sources, agents were primarily focused on understanding Comey's intent.
Specifically, they aimed to determine if the post was intended as a threat against President Trump or designed to inspire others to act violently against him.
The ultimate decision on whether the matter could be considered a chargeable threat would likely rest with the US Attorney's office in Washington.
The investigation highlights the careful line between protected speech and potential threats, especially for public figures.
