Former FBI Director James Comey met with the U.S. Secret Service in Washington, D.C., after posting a cryptic image to Instagram that sparked backlash and prompted a federal investigation, Fox News reported on May 16, 2025.

The now-deleted photo featured seashells arranged to form the numbers “8647” — a combination some interpreted as a veiled threat against President Donald Trump, the 47th president. In popular slang, “86” is sometimes used to mean “eliminate,” leading critics to accuse Comey of implying harm toward the former president.

As The Dallas Express reported earlier today, Comey took down the post and issued a statement denying any violent intent, calling the photo “a coincidence” from a beach walk and reaffirming his opposition to political violence. Nonetheless, the Secret Service is continuing to evaluate whether the post should be treated as a credible threat.

The investigation remains ongoing.