During an interview on Sunday, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Wayley stated that former FBI Director James Comey was likely not aware that his “8647” social media post could be seen as a call to violence.
Wayley mentioned that while Comey should be investigated for his past remarks, he refrained from demanding that the former FBI director be imprisoned.
“I think there’s no way this isn’t intentional,” Wayley remarked in a conversation with Fox News on “Mediabuzz.” He added, “James Comey knew precisely what he was doing. He found it intriguing. It’s not amusing.”
Comey, often a critic of the presidential office, had shared a photo on Instagram showing beach shells arranged to depict the number “8647.” This post garnered backlash from many supporters of Trump, with some interpreting it as a violent message against the former president. Others speculated that “86” could imply a call for Trump to be re-energized or reinstated.
After facing criticism, Comey took down the photo on Thursday evening and clarified in a subsequent post that he never intended to incite violence and was unaware of how his message could be perceived.
In his Instagram statement, Comey explained, “I shared some pictures of shells I found on my beach walk, and I didn’t think it was a political statement.” He went on, “I didn’t realize that some people were connecting those numbers to violence. That thought never crossed my mind, and I oppose all violence, so I removed the post.”
However, Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem accused Comey of implying a call for Trump to be “assassinated,” stating that federal law enforcement is probing the alleged “threat.”
Noem tweeted on Thursday evening, “Disgraceful FBI Director James Comey called for the assassination of @potus Trump. DHS and the Secret Service are investigating this threat and will respond accordingly.”
Gabbard expressed that Comey deserves imprisonment and expressed concern for the president’s safety. “We’ve already seen attempts on his life. I’m very worried about his well-being,” she stated. “In my opinion, James Comey should be held accountable and face consequences.”
