Law enforcement has been monitoring former FBI director James Comey, tracking his phone and movements after his alarming social media post “86 47.”
The Secret Service followed Comey using an unmarked vehicle the day after his “86 47” post on May 15, 2025, and tracked his phone’s location, according to reports.
Comey and his wife, Patrice, were under surveillance by authorities as they traveled through Virginia back to their home near Washington, D.C., officials shared.
During this time, the Secret Service picked up signals from Comey’s phone while federal agents awaited his return home, as noted by government sources.
Once at home, he was reportedly taken by agents for questioning in Washington, D.C.
It’s still uncertain whether Comey’s vehicle was followed by Secret Service agents, other federal agents, or local law enforcement in Virginia and North Carolina.
The surveillance showed a photo with shells arranged in formation “86 47,” which surfaced a day after Comey’s post.
Breitbart News reported that the “86” in the message was interpreted as a violent threat against President Donald Trump, who survived two assassination attempts last year.
Following public backlash, Comey quickly deleted his post.
“James Comey just casually calling for my father to be murdered,” said Donald Trump Jr. in reaction to the post.
“Disgraceful FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @Potus Trump,” added Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem, declaring that the DHS and the Secret Service would look into the threat and take appropriate action.
President Trump also weighed in, stating that Comey’s post implied an assassination call, remarking that if the former FBI director didn’t understand, it seemed quite clear to him.
A White House official mentioned that the Secret Service initiated an investigation into Comey independently, without a request from the White House.
“The Secret Service will rigorously investigate any individuals perceived as threats, regardless of their position,” noted spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. “We can’t comment on operational matters to maintain integrity.”
This scrutiny comes in the wake of previous failures by the Secret Service, particularly regarding security at a rally where a shooting occurred, which resulted in public anger over their effectiveness.
Later, the Secret Service director resigned following a Congressional hearing that revealed many unanswered questions about the agency’s performance.
As of now, while Comey hasn’t been charged related to the “86 47” post, the FBI has opened another investigation involving him and former CIA Director John Brennan concerning allegations of conspiracy between Trump and Russian officials during the 2016 election.
