Democrat Representative Ted Lieu Echoes James Comey, Shares ’86 47’

Rep. Ted Lieu Comments on James Comey Indictment

California Representative Ted Lieu shared a post on his X account that stated “86 47,” imitating the previous remarks made by former FBI Director James Comey regarding threats against President Donald Trump.

A federal grand jury charged Comey on Tuesday based on a May 2025 Instagram post, which featured “8647” inscribed on a seashell. Comey interpreted this as a threat against President Trump. Lieu’s district encompasses Torrance, California, the home of Cole Allen, who is suspected of trying to assassinate Trump. The phrase “86 47” gained traction among leftists following a clip of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s remarks on “Meet the Press.”

Lieu expressed his view, saying, “Three things are going to happen. 1. The Justice Department will lose the Comey case. 2. In the next administration, Comey will receive a significant settlement for selective prosecution. 3. When this administration concludes, @DaGTodBlanche will be disqualified. 86 47,” he wrote.

Legal representatives who defended Trump during his attempts to contest the 2020 election results, like Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, have faced efforts to have their licenses revoked.

In the past, Lieu accused Trump of severe misconduct during a February rally, referencing claims linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s files that the DOJ has since deemed false.

Some legal analysts, including Jonathan Turley from George Washington University, have expressed doubts about the Justice Department’s case against Comey, suggesting it may not hold up under First Amendment scrutiny.

During the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25, Allen, charged with attempting to assassinate Trump, declared in a manifesto that Trump was involved in heinous acts. Notably, Trump survived two previous attempts on his life during the 2024 campaign—once at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another while golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Earlier threats against Trump included two plots to send poisoned letters and an incident where an individual stole a law enforcement officer’s weapon in an attempt to shoot him during a campaign event in Las Vegas in June 2016.