FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino didn’t hold back on his thoughts about former FBI Director James Comey. In a candid chat on Fox & Friends, Bongino expressed his frustration over a social media post by Comey that ended up causing a surge in threats directed at President Donald Trump. The post, which Comey has since deleted, featured seashells arranged in the numbers “8647,” sparking concern among federal agencies.
According to Bongino, Comey’s post led to thousands of threats and pulled critical FBI resources away from more pressing national security matters. The number “86” is known as slang for elimination, while “47” is a nod to Trump as the 47th President of the United States. This cryptic message set off a wave of copycat incidents, with several threats targeting Trump.
Bongino didn’t mince words about Comey, labeling him a “disgrace to the badge, the FBI and the country.” He was particularly upset about Comey’s remarks against Kash Patel, who was the chief of staff and is considered a patriot by many on the right. Bongino accused Comey of taking cheap shots and acting irresponsibly.
The post resulted in a significant number of tips flooding the FBI tip line, forcing agents to spend countless hours chasing down leads related to the “8647” threats. Bongino likened Comey to a “big child,” unable to control his emotions or actions. This situation has serious implications, as resources are being diverted from important investigations.
Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have launched formal investigations to determine if Comey’s post constitutes a threat to the President. FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that the bureau’s operations have been directly impacted by these developments. Agents who were once tracking down criminals like child sex predators and fentanyl traffickers have been reassigned to handle this unexpected situation.
The spread of threats following Comey’s post has led Patel to voice his frustration as well. He noted that people across the country are treating threats to the President’s life as a joke, emboldened by Comey’s actions. This has forced the FBI to pause or reassign efforts on high-priority cases.
In a May 19 interview, Comey dismissed the federal response as a distraction orchestrated by the Trump administration. He showed no remorse, explaining that the shell arrangement was noticed by his wife during a beach walk. Comey mentioned that “86” is often used in the restaurant industry to indicate removing an item from the menu.
Despite Comey’s explanation, federal officials are taking the situation seriously, especially given recent assassination attempts on President Trump. During a July 13, 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old assailant opened fire, grazing Trump’s ear. The attacker was quickly neutralized.
Another attempt followed in September when an individual tried to infiltrate Trump’s golf course residence in Florida with plans to assassinate him. This suspect was apprehended before executing the attack. These incidents underscore the heightened risk environment surrounding the President.
Federal authorities are still investigating the assassination attempts and the surge in threats linked to Comey’s Instagram post. Comey has not issued any further public comments since removing the image. The ongoing investigations highlight the seriousness with which federal agencies are treating the threats.
The opinions in this article are reflective of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of RVM News. Readers are encouraged to contact RVM News for guidelines on submitting their own commentary.
Graduate Student, wife, engaged political and legal writer.