The Donald Trump Administration has pushed a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, as part of an investigation into a social media post that authorities consider potentially threatening.
The case centers on an image where Comey placed seashells forming the sequence “86 47”, a message that, according to the investigators' interpretation, could have a symbolic reading against the president of the United States.
The meaning of the message and the controversial interpretation
The authorities maintain that the number “86” can be used in slang as a synonym for “get rid of someone,” while “47” would be associated with Trump's current presidential term.
The combination has been considered by sectors of the Government as a possible covert message of a violent nature, which has motivated the opening of the new judicial proceeding.
Comey's defense: political message, not a threat
Comey has flatly rejected any violent interpretation of his publication and has insisted that it was a message of a political nature without intent of incitement.
The former FBI director deleted the post shortly after and assured that he was unaware it could be interpreted that way. He also reiterated his absolute rejection of any type of political violence.
The case adds to a long history of friction between Comey and Donald Trump, especially since his role in investigations into the 2016 presidential campaign and subsequent Russian interference.
His dismissal in 2017 marked a turning point in the relationship between the FBI and the White House, and this new episode once again places both at the center of the US political debate.