Washington: Was former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey plotting an assassination bid on US president Donald Trump?
Both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Secret Service are now investigating a social media post by Comey that apparently had a coded message to that effect. Comey had posted an Instagram image of sea shells arranged to form the number ‘8647’.
But, what is 8647?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the number ’86’, can informally mean “to get rid of”, while the number ’47’ may refer to the 47th president of America – Donald Trump.
However preposterous this may seem, authorities in the US are not taking it lightly, particularly after Trump’s allies started accusing Comey of plotting an assassination bid. Security agencies in the US go ballistic even at the mention of an assassination bid on the President of the United States or POTUS.
US Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem took to the social media platform X and said: “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”
Taylor Budowich, a White House deputy chief of staff has also accused Comey of putting out “what can clearly be interpreted as a hit on the sitting president of the United States.”
“This is deeply concerning to all of us and is being taken seriously,” he posted on X.
FBI director Kash Patel also took to X and posted: “We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”
