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Federal authorities are investigating whether or not a message posted on social media by former FBI Director James Comey was meant to be a menace in opposition to President Donald Trump.
Comey, who was fired by Trump in his first time period, posted a picture on Instagram Thursday of seashells within the sand spelling the numbers “8647.”
The quantity “86” usually is used to discuss with eliminating one thing, together with a person. Trump is the forty seventh (and forty fifth) U.S. president.
Accompanying the “8647” picture was a message Comey captioned the publish with: “Cool shell formation on my seaside stroll…” he wrote.
Present FBI Director Kash Patel responded late Thursday on X.
“We’re conscious of the latest social media publish by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump,” Patel posted. “We’re in communication with the Secret Service and [Secret Service] Director [Sean] Curran. Major jurisdiction is with SS on these issues and we, the FBI, will present all essential assist.”
Comey later took the picture down and posted a message on Instagram: “I posted earlier an image of some shells I noticed at present on a seaside stroll, which I assumed have been a political message. I didn’t notice some people affiliate these numbers with violence. It by no means occurred to me however I oppose violence of any sort so I took the publish down.”
Trump confronted two assassination makes an attempt final yr throughout the runup to the November presidential election. At a marketing campaign rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, a sniper fired on Trump from a close-by roof, grazing his ear and killing a spectator.
Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned that the Secret Service and DHS have been investigating.
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Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, confirmed the company was conscious of Comey’s posts.
“The Secret Service vigorously investigates something that may be taken as a possible menace in opposition to our protectees,” he mentioned in an announcement. “We’re conscious of the social media posts by the previous FBI director and we take rhetoric like this very critically.”
Guglielmi mentioned the Secret Companies doesn’t touch upon protecting intelligence issues.
Comey oversaw the investigation of the now debunked claims that Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 presidential marketing campaign.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
