Comey Under Fire for ‘8647’ Post and Connection to Violence Accusations

James Comey faces investigation for a photo posted with ‘8647’, which Trump’s allies claim incites violence against the President. Comey clarified he did not intend to suggest violence. The term ‘eighty-six’ has restaurant origins and isn’t linked to violence by most dictionaries. Experts say terms must be carefully used in today’s political climate.

Former FBI Director James Comey is currently facing scrutiny after posting a photo featuring seashells arranged to spell out “8647” on May 15. What was intended as a simple beach walk update quickly escalated into a political stir, particularly among supporters of President Donald Trump. They allege that he was inciting violence against Trump by referencing the number ‘86’.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed outrage on social media, suggesting that Comey’s post hinted at an assassination attempt on the President. She stated, “Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump,” adding that the Department of Homeland Security along with the Secret Service were investigating the matter.

In light of the backlash, Comey retracted the photo and clarified his intentions in a follow-up message, insisting he never meant to imply violence. According to Comey, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today… I didn’t realize some folks associated those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

The term “eighty-six” has ambiguous origins, and its history is rooted mainly in the hospitality industry. Ben Zimmer, a linguist, explains, “It originated from the restaurant industry, where ‘86’ was a code to indicate that an item was not available.” Over time, it evolved to mean getting rid of something or ejecting someone from a place. The Merriam-Webster dictionary points to its 1930s slang use, suggesting its meaning didn’t include violence until much later.

Some speculate that the term also relates to soup kitchens of the Great Depression, where the 86th person in line would get nothing, or even a speakeasy located on 86th Street in New York. According to Zimmer, the association of ‘eighty-six’ with killing someone is a modern interpretation and is not included in most standard dictionary definitions of the term.

Interestingly, Comey’s situation isn’t the first in political contexts to reference the number “86”. For instance, Rep. Matt Gaetz recently tweeted about having “86’d” several notable politicians. Furthermore, past incidents include Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer receiving scrutiny for an “8645” pin during a televised interview, linking back to Trump’s presidency.

The term has appeared in recent political discourse, including a post by conservative activist Jack Posobiec, who alluded to former President Biden with “86 46”. Additionally, there was significant media coverage of a Virginia restaurant where staff wrote “86 — Sarah Huckabee Sanders” after asking her to leave in 2018.

Now the question remains: does using the term “86” equate to inciting violence? PolitiFact reached out to retired FBI agents for insight. Frank Figliuzzi, a former FBI agent, stated, “I never in my 25 years of the FBI have I seen that term used with intention to incite violence.” Moreover, Michael Tabman advised that while terminology can sometimes be misinterpreted, he believes Comey likely did not mean to suggest violence.

Bobby Chacon, another former FBI agent, noted the need for caution. He said, “Public figures using these terms have to be cognizant of the current political climate, and the context that some of their followers may interpret from their comments.”

James Comey is under investigation following backlash regarding his social media post referencing ‘8647’, where he was accused of inciting violence against President Trump. The term ‘eighty-six’ has various origins, primarily linked to the restaurant industry. While it can have some violent connotations, experts emphasize there isn’t a direct association with incitement. Clarifications from Comey suggest he hadn’t intended to promote violence, a sentiment echoed by retired FBI agents who understand the term’s diverse history.

Original Source: www.pbs.org