James Comey breaks silence to clarify intent behind '86 47' post
James Comey (pictured) has placed the blame on his wife for what he called a 'totally innocent' Instagram post that some suggested was a coded message calling for the 'assassination of President Trump.' Comey spoke publicly for the first time since the controversy, claiming his wife not only suggested taking the picture but also informed him that the phrase '86' was related to restaurants.
'We stood over it and I said, I think it's some kind of political message and she said, "86 when I was a server... meant to remove an item from the menu when you ran out of ingredients,"' Comey told MSNBC's Nicole Wallace while mentioning that his wife had worked in restaurants. 'And I said, well, to me, as a kid, it always meant to leave a place, to ditch a place. I said, that's really clever,' he added about the supposedly innocent shell formation. 'So then she said, "You should take a picture of that." And I did, and I posted it on my Instagram account and thought nothing more of it.'
But the innocent beachside snap set off a firestorm. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (pictured suggested Comey be arrested and the Secret Service interview him about the post . The Merriam-Webster dictionary says 86 is slang meaning 'to throw out,' 'to get rid of' or 'to refuse service to.' It notes: 'Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of "to kill." We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.' Numerous Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asserted that Comey was advocating the assassination of Trump, the 47th president, which he completely dismissed. 'I heard through her that people were saying it was some sort of a call for assassination, which is crazy. But I took it down. Even if I think it's crazy, I don't want to be associated with violence of any kind,' he said.
The long-time Trump antagonist - hated by liberals as well for his reopening of Hillary Clinton's e-mail scandal days before the 2016 election - called the Secret Service agents who interviewed him 'total pros.' 'I in the Trump era, I've been investigated a lot, audited a lot, and so it's not my first rodeo. I'm in some strange way, the relationship he can't get over. Maybe because I've lived a happy, productive life since leaving, but this has just been a distraction in that life,' he said. The president - who fired Comey as head of the FBI in his first term - responded to the post himself, referring to Comey as 'a child.' 'I hope people know enough about that particular person that they understand where it's coming from,' Comey said. 'It says something more depressing about the leadership of our current administration. And I just shrug because that's ridiculous.'
When asked about it on Friday during a Fox News interview, Trump said: 'He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.' He deflected a question on what he thought should happen, saying the decision would be up to Bondi.
The post was deleted on Thursday after it was made, with Comey subsequently writing: 'I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. 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,' the now-crime novelist wrote. Trump was wounded by an assassin's bullet at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, and then almost shot at by another would-be assassin at his West Palm Beach, Florida golf course on September 15, 2024.
Trump and Comey have had a fraught relationship dating back nearly a decade. Comey was the FBI director when Trump took office in 2017, having been appointed four years earlier by then-President Barack Obama and serving before that as a senior Justice Department official in President George W. Bush's administration. But the relationship was strained from the start, including after Comey resisted a request by Trump at a private dinner to pledge his personal loyalty to the president - an overture that so unnerved the FBI director that he documented it in a contemporaneous memorandum.
Trump then fired Comey in May 2017 amid an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump's presidential campaign. That inquiry, later taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller, would ultimately find that while Russia interfered in the 2016 election and the Trump team welcomed the help, there was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal collaboration .
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Chaotic street brawl caught on video in Cincinnati as officials probe 'breakdown of order'
Disturbing footage posted online shows the moment an unidentified man was violently attacked by an unruly mob in downtown Cincinnati in what officials are now calling a 'breakdown of order.' The viral video of the assault Friday night at the intersection of Fourth and Elm Streets started with a verbal dispute between at least two men, according to police chief Teresa Theetge. The carnage left at least two people, an unidentified male and female victim, injured, with WKRC reporting that a good Samaritan rushed them to a local hospital in the aftermath. Their conditions remain unclear as cops work to identify and arrest all of those involved. The shocking footage, originally posted to the Signal 99 Facebook page, shows an unidentified assailant attacking a man in a white t-shirt from behind. The man in the white shirt then tries to run away into the street, when the original assailant and one of his friends punch and tackle him to the ground. At that point, more people joined in on the assault, stomping on the victim for nearly a minute as he lay in the middle of the street. When the barrage of attacks temporarily stops, the victim could be seen attempting to stand - but he immediately falls over in apparent disorientation as frustrated drivers honk their horns to get the mob to move out of the way. One man could then be heard shouting, 'My man's drunk.' Moments later, an unidentified woman in a black dress could be seen trying to check on the fallen man - when another woman in the crowd grabs her and a separate man in the crowd violently punches her. The impact caused the woman to fall to he ground, with her head slamming into the concrete. It soon becomes clear that she is unconscious as blood spews from her mouth. The viral video ends with bystanders attempting to move the woman out of the street. Another video obtained by WKRC appears to show the moments leading up to the attack. It shows the man in the white t-shirt talking with the group, when he suddenly slaps a man in a red t-shirt. It also shows another man being targeted by the unruly mob. 'I am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen,' Chief Theetge said on Saturday, after mayoral candidate and Vice President JD Vance's half brother reposted the video - arguing that the current administration is not doing enough to address crime in the city. 'The behavior is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable,' she continued, vowing that investigators will work 'diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm.' Authorities have already spoken to two people seen in the video, Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober told WKRC. 'They're doing everything they can,' he insisted. 'These investigators have been working around the clock to identify everybody that's involved, to be able to locate these people. to be able to interview them, to be able to get a true picture of exactly what occurred.' Investigators have also received tips on some of the attackers' identities, Kober revealed. 'I would ask... that the public play a part in this, because stuff like this shouldn't happen in our city, but when it does, we need people to step forward, that way we can bring these people to justice.' In separate remarks to WLWT, Kober called the violence 'disgusting.' 'What's equally disgusting is those who chose to watch and record instead of calling 911, attempting to defuse the situation or render aid.' Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes argued the video represented a 'breakdown of order, decency and accountability' Cincinnati city councilman Mark Jeffreys also described the video as 'incredibly disturbing and horrific' as well as 'downright inhumane.' He added that he has spoken with other city officials and police to work on 'finding the individuals responsible and arresting them urgently.' 'This behavior cannot stand and will not represent our city,' Jeffreys said. 'Those responsible must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.' Similarly, Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes argued on X: 'What happened on Fourth Street in Cincinnati wasn't just a fight, it was a breakdown of order, decency and accountability - caught on video and cheered on by a crowd. 'This isn't just Cincinnati's problem, it's ours too,' he said, arguing that such violent attacks do not just stay in the city because 'the perception of danger ripples across the region,' discouraging residents from visiting evens and attractions. 'Families stop going out. Businesses stop investing. and cities lose the very momentum they worked to build,' Hughes wrote. 'This video isn't just another viral moment. It's a warning shot,' he concluded. 'We can either raise our voices or watch silence fund the chaos.' Cincinnati police data released on July 21 shows that the central business district and riverfront area where the assault took place has seen a 25 percent increase in violence compared to last year. It also shows that there were 12 aggravated assaults in the city between January 1 through July 21, compared to 16 during the same time period last year.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Marcus Morris Sr's brother and agent slam NBA star's 'insane' arrest 'real' reasons he was detained
The twin brother of NBA free agent Marcus Morris Sr. and the player's agent are disputing the reason for his shocking arrest in Florida on Sunday. Morris was arrested at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. According to arrest records in Broward County, Morris is being held on a charge of Fraud - Writing a Check With Insufficient Funds. But hours after the arrest, Morris' brother Markieff posted an angry statement on X, formerly Twitter: 'The wording is crazy. Damn for that amount of money they'll embarrass you in the airport with your family,' the post read. 'They could have came to the crib for all that. 'When y'all hear the real story on this s**t man. All I can say is Lesson learned. Bro will tell y'all tomorrow. This weird shit gave me a headache. Can't stop nothin!' Nearly half an hour later, Yony Noy - who represents both brothers - posted a statement of his own: 'Just so everyone understands this is zero fraud here or whatever crap outlets have said regarding fake checks or whatever the hell. This is due to an outstanding marker with a casino. Apparently if you have over $1,200 they can issue a warrant for your arrest. Absolute insanity!' A source told Daily Mail that the casino in question is in Las Vegas. According to the websites of multiple law firms, in the state of Nevada, an unpaid marker is treated as the equivalent of writing a bad check. Failing to pay a marker is treated as a class D felony and carries a penalty of fines and up to four years in prison. The Broward County Sheriff's Office did not immediately return a request for comment from Marcus has had a 13-year NBA career, beginning when the Houston Rockets selected him 14th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. He would go on to play for the Rockets, the Phoenix Suns, the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Most recently, he played the 2023-24 season with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This incident is not Marcus' first run-in with the law. In 2012, he was arrested in Lawrence, Kansas on a battery charge after he and another person punched a bar employee while watching a Kansas-Missouri basketball game. Marcus entered a diversion agreement, paid a $300 diversion fee, and $60 in court fees. He also agreed to not come in contact with the victim or the bar for one year. At the time the diversion agreement was made, the prosecutor said that the case would be dismissed if Morris fulfilled the terms and remained 'out of trouble' during the 12 month period. Three years later, Marcus, Markeiff, Baltimore Ravens safety Gerald Bowman, and two other assailants were arrested in connection with the assault of 36-year-old Eric Hood in Arizona. Both Marcus and Markeiff were playing on the Phoenix Suns at the time. Hood, who had mentored the Morris twins, was allegedly 'sending an inappropriate text message' to the twins' mother. After a trial, the twins and Bowman were found not guilty while the other two assailants confessed.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Trump posts bizarre meme comparing Obama to infamous OJ Simpson episode
President Donald Trump has posted a bizarre meme of himself and Vice President JD Vance chasing down Barack Obama in a recreation OJ Simpson 's infamous 1994 police chase. In the picture, Obama drives a white Ford Bronco, trailed closely by six police cars. In the two closest cars, Trump is pictured in the driver's seat of one, with Vance in the other. While Trump is all smiles in his photo, he has chosen a less flattering picture of his VP, with Vance depicted as bloated and with long curly hair. Vance didn't take the unflattering picture to heart, sharing the meme to his own X account and adding a laughing emoji. The post he shared read 'look closer at JD's face. No way!' Trump offered no explanation for the meme, but it came amid his latest attack on Obama in an effort to shift criticism of his handling of the Epstein files onto his predecessors. He has repeatedly tried to distance his administration from his campaign promise to release Epstein's client list and investigate his cause of death after Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed no such list exists and confirmed he did die by suicide. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also released a declassified report allegedly implicating Obama and his administration of 2016 election interference that accused Trump of colluding with Moscow. Trump has accused Obama of treason, while Obama issued a statement denying any allegations. His latest post was a bizarre reference to a famous picture of retired NFL star Simpson, who at the time was accused of killing his ex-wife and her friend. Simpson was sensationally acquitted of the alleged murders during what was dubbed the 'trial of the century.' The decision is still considered controversial 30 years later. Trump's fixation on Obama's alleged crimes came after being asked yet another question about Jeffrey Epstein – a matter that is itself so explosive that House Republican leaders sent members home on recess, thereby avoiding a difficult vote on the issue. 'I don't follow it too much,' he said of the Epstein matter, before immediately turning the tables on Obama. Trump went on to share an AI generated video of Obama wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and sitting down inside his cell. Even as Trump tries to paint Obama as a criminal, the Supreme Court ruled in a monumental 2024 decision that the President of the United States has immunity from prosecution for official acts in office, in a case argued by lawyers on Trump's behalf. Trump was asked if 'presidential immunity' would apply to Obama before his trip to Scotland on Friday and the president didn't deny it, going as far as to say he'd done his predecessor a favor. 'He has done criminal acts, no question about it. But he has immunity and it probably helps him a lot. He owes me big. Obama owes me big,' Trump said. The ex-president's team argued in late 2023 that Trump, and any president, must have absolute immunity from prosecution over actions taken while in office or it could impair important decision-making. The 6-3 decision split along the court's ideological lines ensures that Trump will not face another blockbuster trial anytime soon - with the case sent back to a lower court to determine what is considered his 'official' versus 'unofficial' acts. Obama spoke out about the case via his spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush earlier this week, refuting many of the accusations circling around him. 'The bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes,' Rodenbush noted. 'These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio,' Rodenbush concluded. GOP leadership in both the House and Senate are pursuing investigations into members of the Biden and Obama administrations as they fend off clamoring calls for transparency in the Epstein scandal enveloping the Trump administration. Democrats have portrayed the reintroduction of the 'Russian hoax' saga as a way for the Trump Administration to distract from the demands around Epstein. Trump has repeatedly shared outrageous memes since his return to the White House, including making himself the Pope after the death of Pope Francis and sharing an AI video of his vision for Gaza complete with bizarre bearded belly dancers and a statue of himself.
