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James Comey: Ex-FBI boss interviewed by Secret Service over Trump seashell post | James Comey: Ex-FBI boss interviewed by Secret Service over Trump seashell post |
(32 minutes later) | |
Watch: James Comey's 8647 post "meant assassination", says Trump | Watch: James Comey's 8647 post "meant assassination", says Trump |
Former FBI director James Comey has been interviewed by the US Secret Service after he shared then deleted a social media post that Republicans alleged was an incitement to violence against US President Donald Trump. | Former FBI director James Comey has been interviewed by the US Secret Service after he shared then deleted a social media post that Republicans alleged was an incitement to violence against US President Donald Trump. |
Comey voluntarily participated in the questioning for about an hour at the law enforcement agency's Washington DC headquarters and was not held in custody. | |
It comes a day after he posted on Instagram a photo of seashells that spelled the numbers "8647". | It comes a day after he posted on Instagram a photo of seashells that spelled the numbers "8647". |
The number 86 is a slang term whose definitions include "to reject" or "to get rid of", however, it has more recently been used as a term to mean "kill". Trump is the 47th US president. | The number 86 is a slang term whose definitions include "to reject" or "to get rid of", however, it has more recently been used as a term to mean "kill". Trump is the 47th US president. |
Trump said earlier in the day during an interview with Fox News that Comey, whom he fired as FBI director in 2017, was calling for him to be killed. | |
What does '86' mean? | What does '86' mean? |
"He knew exactly what that meant," said Trump, who survived two attempts on his life last year. "A child knows what that meant. | "He knew exactly what that meant," said Trump, who survived two attempts on his life last year. "A child knows what that meant. |
"If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear." | "If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear." |
"Cool shell formation," Comey commented before deleting the post | "Cool shell formation," Comey commented before deleting the post |
Trump said any decision on whether charges should be filed against Comey would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi. | Trump said any decision on whether charges should be filed against Comey would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi. |
Comey posted the seashell photo on Thursday then deleted it amid conservative uproar. | Comey posted the seashell photo on Thursday then deleted it amid conservative uproar. |
He wrote in a follow-up message on Instagram that he had seen the shells during a walk on the beach, "which I assumed were a political message". | He wrote in a follow-up message on Instagram that he had seen the shells during a walk on the beach, "which I assumed were a political message". |
"I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took down the post." | "I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took down the post." |
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X on Friday evening that the Secret Service had "interviewed disgraced former FBI Director Comey regarding a social media post calling for the assassination of President Trump". | |
"I will continue to take all measures necessary to ensure the protection of @POTUS Trump," she added. "This is an ongoing investigation." | |
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the highest-ranking spymaster in the US, called earlier for Comey to be jailed for "issuing a hit" on Trump while he was travelling in the Middle East. |