FBI Director Kash Patel reveals critical national security resources are being diverted from fighting child exploitation and terrorism to handle a surge of threatening “copycats” inspired by former FBI Director James Comey’s controversial “86 47” Instagram post.
Key Takeaways
- FBI Director Kash Patel has criticized former Director James Comey’s “86 47” Instagram post for triggering numerous copycat threats against President Trump
- Patel reports FBI agents are being redirected from critical investigations involving child exploitation, fentanyl trafficking, and terrorism to address these emerging threats
- Comey claims the post was “totally innocent” – showing seashells arranged on a beach – but “86” is widely recognized as slang for eliminating something, while “47” refers to Trump as the 47th president
- The Secret Service opened an investigation into Comey’s post, which he has since deleted
- The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the current administration and Comey, who was fired during Trump’s first term
Comey’s Controversial Post Sparks National Security Concerns
FBI Director Kash Patel has publicly lambasted former Director James Comey over a now-deleted Instagram post that many interpreted as a veiled threat against President Donald Trump. The post, which featured seashells arranged to spell “86 47” on a beach, has generated significant controversy given that “86” is commonly understood in American slang to mean removing or getting rid of something, while “47” is widely recognized as referring to Trump as the 47th president. The post has triggered a wave of copycat threats that Patel says are straining the bureau’s resources and diverting attention from critical investigations.
“Do you know how many copycats we’ve had to investigate as a result of that beachside venture from the former director?” Kash Patel asked during a Fox News appearance. “Do you know how many agents I’ve had to take offline from chasing down child sex predators, fentanyl traffickers, terrorists.. because everywhere across this country people are popping up on social media and think that a threat to the life of the president of the United States is a joke… and they can do it because [Comey] did it?”
Comey’s Defense Falls Flat
Comey has maintained that the post was innocent, claiming that he and his wife simply discovered the shell arrangement during a beach walk. “My wife and I were walking on the beach, and saw those numbers in shells on the beach. Somebody else did it!” Comey stated in his defense.He further claimed ignorance about the potential meaning, saying he thought “86” merely meant “to get out of a place,” said Comey’s.This explanation has been met with skepticism from many observers, particularly given Comey’s extensive law enforcement background and familiarity with coded language.
“Comey said: ‘That’s really clever,” Comey recalled of his initial reaction to seeing the shells.
The Secret Service opened an investigation into the post shortly after it appeared online, and Comey voluntarily appeared for an interview. Though Comey has deleted the post and issued a clarification that it was not intended as a threat, the damage appears to have been done in terms of inspiring imitators. President Trump himself has characterized the message as a clear call for assassination, further elevating the controversy and public attention to the incident.
Strained Resources and Ongoing Tensions
The FBI has not provided specific numbers regarding the increase in threats since Comey’s post, but Patel’s comments suggest the impact has been substantial. “That’s what I’m having to deal with every single day,” he stated, highlighting the operational burden the situation has created.The reallocation of agents from critical missions involving child exploitation, drug trafficking, and counter-terrorism investigations represents a tangible cost to public safety, according to the FBI director.
The incident has exacerbated existing tensions between Comey and the Trump administration. Comey, who was fired during Trump’s first term, had previously questioned Patel’s qualifications to lead the FBI during a CNN appearance. “Obviously, you start with the fact that the guy has literally nothing in his entire adult life that prepares him for this role. And so, that’s deeply concerning to start with,” Comey remarked about Patel.This criticism, followed by the Instagram controversy, has created a public feud between the current and former FBI directors with serious national security implications.
