Former Coast Guard Officer Arrested for Threatening President Trump
FBI Director Kash Patel took to social media to call out a former Coast Guard officer who was arrested for allegedly threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump. Patel suggested that this could be linked to an Instagram post made earlier this year by ex-FBI director James Comey, which featured a shell with the numbers “86 47”.
Patel specifically pointed to Peter Stinson, the Coast Guard official accused of making those threats. Stinson served in the Coast Guard from 1988 until 2021 and has previously worked as a FEMA instructor. Court documents indicate that Stinson has made multiple alarming threats aimed at Trump.
Earlier, Comey had shared a photo on Instagram showing a shell marked “86 47”. Although he deleted it shortly after posting, the back-and-forth that ensued included criticism from Trump and led to at least two interviews with the Secret Service.
In an interview, Comey claimed he had no “dark intentions” behind the post, associating it instead with his past experience as a restaurant server, implying that his wife would have asked him to “86” something. It’s worth noting that “86” is slang that typically refers to discarding or rejecting something, with “47” being a nod to Trump being the 47th president.
Despite acknowledging the distraction and controversy surrounding the post, Comey expressed his reluctance to regret it, stating that it felt innocent to him even in retrospect. He is not under investigation for the Instagram post, and both he and his wife view it as having no malicious intent.
Nonetheless, Patel and other Trump administration officials haven’t softened their stance on the issue, especially given Patel’s past role under Comey. He mentioned that the situation with Stinson was somewhat predictable and noted that law enforcement has been effective in blocking potential violent actors.
Stinson, who lives in Northern Virginia, had shared threats during the 2024 election period, including ones advocating for violence against Trump, stating that he believed “Antifa always wins in the end.” One post expressed frustration about the Secret Service’s response time during a campaign event.
More troubling was a statement from Stinson in February in which he declared “this is war” and emphasized the perceived necessity of violence in certain circumstances. The last post referenced in court documents suggested a celebration of Trump’s death.
Comey has not yet commented on Patel’s remarks regarding the Instagram post’s potential influence on Stinson. The latest developments mention Stinson’s arrest following federal charges in California linked to threats against Trump, making clear that such threats will be taken seriously and prosecuted to the fullest extent, as echoed by Attorney General Pam Bondy.
