In a surprising twist of events, former FBI Director James Comey finds himself at the center of a legal whirlwind. The Justice Department has charged him over a seemingly innocuous social media post made over a year ago, which they argue posed a threat to President Trump.
A grand jury has indicted Comey, accusing him of making a threat against the President by posting an image of seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647” on a North Carolina beach in May 2025. The number “86” is often interpreted as slang for “get rid of,” while Trump is both the 45th and 47th president.
Comey, who has been vocal against Trump since his dismissal in 2017, responded in a Substack video: “I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go.” The charges carry a potential 10-year prison sentence.
In the past, Comey has claimed the arrangement carried a political message, stating, “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.” Despite removing the post following backlash from Republicans and Trump family members, the investigation proceeded.
Critics argue that the Trump administration has aggressively pursued political adversaries, noting a previous attempt to indict Comey for his 2020 congressional testimony, which was dismissed due to an unlawfully appointed prosecutor.
The new indictment follows a recent security breach at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, emphasizing the seriousness with which threats against the President are taken. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, addressing the press, emphasized that intent can be proven “with witnesses, with documents, with the defendant himself to the extent … it’s appropriate.”
From Soda Counters to Social Media: The Evolution of “86”
The term “eighty-six” has its roots in 1930s soda-counter slang, meaning an item was sold out, according to Merriam-Webster. Over time, it evolved to mean refusing service and eventually “to get rid of.” Although it’s occasionally interpreted as “to kill,” this usage remains unofficial due to its relative rarity.
“86” in the Political Arena
The term entered political discourse in 2018 when Sarah Huckabee Sanders was ejected from a restaurant. “86 Sarah Huckabee Sanders” went viral after appearing on a staff note. In 2020, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sported an “8645” pin, prompting Republican reactions. Linguist Anne Curzan explained its meaning as akin to “asked to leave,” similar to the Sanders incident.
The “8647” slogan has also been used by conservatives, featuring in TikTok videos and protest signs against Trump. Distractify noted its use to signal opposition to Trump’s presidency.
Merchandise with “8647” and “8646” (referring to President Biden) is available online. NPR contacted Amazon and Etsy regarding potential policy violations. Some liberal critics have highlighted Republicans’ past indifference to similar rhetoric against Democratic leaders, referencing Trump’s 2024 post and Rep. Paul Gosar’s censured anime video.
Instances of conservatives using “86” include Jack Posobiec’s 2022 tweet and Rep. Matt Gaetz’s 2024 reference, which went largely unnoticed at the time.
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