FBI Director Kash Patel has raised alarms over a surge in threats against President Donald Trump, attributing this uptick to a controversial social media post by James Comey.
The former FBI director's Instagram post, which featured seashells arranged to form the numbers "8647," has sparked a wave of "copycat" threats, according to Patel.
During an appearance on Fox News' "Special Report" with Bret Baier, Patel expressed his concerns about the repercussions of Comey's actions. "Do you know how many copycats weve had to investigate as a result of that beachside venture from the former director?" he questioned, highlighting the strain on FBI resources.
Patel further explained that the agency has been forced to divert personnel from critical tasks, such as combating child sex crimes and drug trafficking, to address these threats. "Do you know how many agents Ive 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?" Patel remarked.
As reported by One America News, the controversy stems from Comey's now-deleted Instagram post, which he captioned, "Cool shell formation on my beach walk." The number "86" is commonly understood as slang for eliminating or removing someone, while "47" is a reference to the 47th President.
This combination has been interpreted by many as a veiled call for action against President Trump. Patel criticized Comey's actions, stating, "Thats what Im having to deal with every single day... And thats why Im having to pull my agents and analysts off because [Comey] thought it was funny to go out there and make a political statement."
In response to the backlash, Comey defended his post during an MSNBC interview, describing it as "totally innocent" and expressing confidence that no legal repercussions would follow. Despite Comey's assurances, the incident has underscored the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing the fallout from high-profile figures' social media activities.
The FBI's reallocation of resources highlights the broader implications of such actions, as the agency grapples with maintaining national security while addressing politically charged threats.
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