ABC Information and CNN, through YouTubeCredit score: (Screenshot), ABC Information and CNN, through YouTube
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 towards 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” typically is used to consult 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 submit 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 submit 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 mandatory assist.”
Comey later took the picture down and posted a message on Instagram: “I posted earlier an image of some shells I noticed at the moment on a seaside stroll, which I assumed have been a political message. I didn’t understand some of us affiliate these numbers with violence. It by no means occurred to me however I oppose violence of any variety so I took the submit down.”
Trump confronted two assassination makes an attempt final yr in the course of 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 stated 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 towards our protectees,” he stated in an announcement. “We’re conscious of the social media posts by the previous FBI director and we take rhetoric like this very significantly.”
Guglielmi stated the Secret Providers 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 Middle Sq..
