James Comey’s cryptic Instagram post recently landed him in hot water. The former FBI director, no stranger to controversy, sparked outrage with a beachside seashell arrangement spelling “86 47,” widely interpreted as a veiled threat against President Trump, as the Daily Mail reports. Now, he’s doubling down with warnings to MAGA Republicans, proving actions have consequences.
Comey, fired by Trump in 2017, posted the seashell image, then deleted it after backlash ensued. During an MSNBC interview with Jen Psaki, he accused MAGA Republicans of recklessly attacking enemies and warned Democrats would seek legal accountability when they regain power. This escalation follows a federal investigation into his post, which referenced “86” as slang for “eliminate” and “47” for Trump’s presidency.
Comey’s feud with Trump began during the 2017 Russia investigation. He claimed that Trump demanded personal loyalty, a charge he documented in a memo. The Mueller-led probe found Russian interference in the 2016 election but no criminal ties to Trump’s campaign.
Comey’s Instagram post, which he says was suggested by his wife, Patrice, showed seashells arranged as “86 47.” She reportedly urged him to share the “cool” image, but online critics quickly decoded it as a call for Trump’s assassination. Comey, claiming ignorance, removed it after Patrice alerted him to the potential interpretations.
“I don’t want any part of violence,” Comey said. Yet his swift deletion suggests he grasped the post’s weight. For a former FBI chief, pleading naivety strains credulity.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem dispatched agents to question Comey. He was escorted from his Virginia home to the Secret Service’s Washington field office. The interview, described as routine, underscored the gravity of threats in a climate where Trump survived two assassination attempts last year.
On MSNBC, Comey lambasted MAGA Republicans for what he views as attempting to dismantle nonpartisan justice. “MAGA Republicans will ‘be deeply sorry’ if they continue to attack their enemies,” he warned. His words imply that a future Democrat-led administration might weaponize the law against conservatives.
Comey criticized Trump’s leadership for gutting the DOJ’s Office of Public Integrity. He admitted the Justice Department could be streamlined but called Trump’s approach destructive. Such hypocrisy from a man whose own post flirted with incitement is rich, indeed.
“This is destroying the place at a cost that’s gonna take years to rebuild,” Comey said of Trump’s DOJ reforms. Yet his actions -- posting a coded threat -- hardly model the integrity he claims to champion. Pot, meet kettle.
The Secret Service’s Anthony Guglielmi confirmed they “vigorously investigate” potential threats. Trump himself didn’t mince words: “He knew exactly what that meant.” The probe, backed by Trump’s former FBI Director Kash Patel, signals no leniency for Comey’s stunt.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard demanded Comey’s imprisonment. Her call reflects conservative outrage over his provocative post. With the FBI supporting the investigation, Comey’s claim of no wrongdoing rings hollow.
Comey endorsed Biden in 2020 and Harris in 2024, aligning with progressive causes. His books, including A Higher Loyalty, have kept him in the spotlight since his firing. But this latest scandal suggests that he is more interested in headlines than principle.
“Part of the roar of Trump is to freak out his victims,” Comey told Psaki, urging resilience against threats. His advice might apply to himself, as he is now federal scrutiny. Turns out, cryptic posts and veiled warnings don’t scream “grandfatherly retreat," as he attempted to claim.
Comey insists the investigation will clear him. “I was… trying to withdraw a little bit,” he claimed, citing his role as an author and family patriarch. Yet his MSNBC appearance, clad in his “old uniform,” betrays a man itching for the fray.
Conservatives see Comey’s actions as peak elitism -- a former FBI head toying with dangerous rhetoric while preaching accountability. His seashell saga and MSNBC threats only deepen distrust in establishment figures. Actions, indeed, do have consequences.
