The Federal Bureau of Investigation has initiated a probe into what appears to be a threat against President Donald Trump, allegedly made by James Comey, the former FBI director.
This development follows a social media uproar over a post by Comey, which many interpreted as advocating harm against the President.
On Thursday, Comey shared an image of a shell formation he claimed to have discovered during a beach walk, with the numbers "8647" prominently displayed. This post quickly drew widespread condemnation, as some interpreted the numbers as a call for the President's removal or even death.
In response to the backlash, Comey removed the post and clarified his intentions. "I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message," he explained. "I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down."
According to The Blaze, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced her intention to investigate the matter alongside the U.S. Secret Service. "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," she stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed the bureau's cooperation with the Secret Service, emphasizing that the primary jurisdiction lies with the Secret Service. "We are aware of the recent tweet by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump," Patel noted. "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."
The incident elicited a strong reaction from Donald Trump Jr., who took to social media to express his outrage. "Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!" he wrote, highlighting the perceived bias of media outlets that are often critical of conservative figures.
James Comey, who was succeeded by Christopher Wray during President Trump's first term, has been a controversial figure since his dismissal.
Wray, who resigned just before the start of Trump's second term, was replaced by Kash Patel, a move that underscores the President's commitment to appointing individuals who align with his administration's values and priorities.
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