NEW YORK (AP) - Former FBI director James Comey expressed his bewilderment regarding a recent incident where an Instagram post of arranged shells on the beach led to accusations from Donald Trump and others, suggesting he was calling for the president's assassination. This situation culminated in an interview with the Secret Service. Comey shared his thoughts during an event at a Barnes & Noble on Manhattan's Upper West Side, stating, "It’s been a bit of a distraction, honestly," with a weary laugh.
Comey was promoting his upcoming crime novel, “FDR Drive,” which explores themes of speech and its potential to incite violence. The controversy originated last Thursday when Comey and his wife, Patrice, were returning from a beach walk and noticed some shells laid out in a formation resembling numbers, including “86.” The couple pondered whether this was a home address or a political message; Patrice noted that “86” in restaurants signifies that an ingredient is out of stock, while Comey recalled it as slang for something being boring and needing to be "ditched."
After returning home, Patrice encouraged Comey to share a picture of the shells on Instagram, which he agreed was a "cool thing." However, some viewers interpreted the arrangement as a reference to “86” and “47.” According to Merriam-Webster, the number "86" has become slang meaning "to throw out" or "to get rid of," with one of the recent meanings extending to "to kill." Notably, Trump is known as the 47th president of the United States.
Hours after posting, Patrice informed Comey that social media users were accusing him of calling for Trump’s assassination. Alarmed, Comey decided to delete the image, stating, "I don’t want any part of violence." Despite his quick action, the post had already caught the attention of Trump and other officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel. Trump, speaking on Fox News, claimed Comey "knew exactly what that meant" and asserted, "A child knows what that meant." He interpreted the post as a clear call for assassination.
Following the incident, Comey received a call from the Secret Service. He spoke with them and later agreed to an in-person meeting. He recounted, "They gave me a ride to their headquarters, and the Washington field office interviewed me." During this interview, Comey reiterated his earlier explanations regarding the shells' arrangement and expressed his confusion over how the incident escalated to such significant attention.
This incident seems an odd continuation of Comey’s post-FBI career, which has included several books, such as his bestselling memoir “A Higher Loyalty,” and now, fiction writing, with previous novels including “Central Park Drive” and “Westport.” Comey's confusion and concern highlight the intense scrutiny public figures face in today's digital age, where interpretations of seemingly innocent actions can have serious implications.
