Former FBI Director James Comey’s notorious, thinly-veiled call for violence against President Donald Trump has inspired copycats and - like Comey - they’ll be investigated, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino warns.
Last Wednesday, Comey posted a photo of sea shells arranged to spell out “86 47.” Comey declared the reference to violence (“86”) against Trump (the 47th presidential administration) to be a "Cool shell formation on my beach walk."
The U.S. Secret Service has interviewed Comey about the incident and is keeping the FBI updated on its investigation.
“We are now dealing with copycats, sending cryptic threats to public figures, using the ‘86’ reference,” Bongino reported Monday in a social media post notifying potential copycats that they’ll be investigated – regardless of whether or not their posts are actual threats:
“Whether they turn out to be legitimate threats or not, taxpayer-funded public safety agents are going to have to run these all out and investigate them.”
Actions have consequences, Bongino wrote, referring to last week’s Instagram post by Comey:
“This is a reminder of the damage self-serving individuals, with a history of extremely poor judgement, can do when they fail to control their impulses.”
In mafia lingo, “86” is code for taking people eight miles out of town, killing them and then burying them in a grave six feet deep.
“FBI Director James Comey brought shame to the FBI badge, yet again, this past week,” Bongino wrote Saturday in a post, blasting Comey’s tenure at the FBI and promising reform:
“The Director and I spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning up messes left behind by former Director Comey. And his latest actions are no exception. As I’ve stated in the past, I cannot post openly about all the things the Director and I are doing to reform the enterprise, but I assure you, they are happening.
“Sadly, many of those agenda items are the result of former Director Comey’s poor decision making and atrocious leadership. And to those who doubt me, I assure you, when you see what the Director and I see from the inside, it’s even worse.”