Article Summary
GOP Rep. Tim Burchett calls for the arrest of former FBI Director James Comey over a seemingly threatening Instagram post. Comey posted an image of seashells and stones spelling out “8647,” which many have interpreted as a threat on President Donald Trump’s life. Burchett’s call for action has caught the attention of FBI Director Kash Patel, who noted that the Secret Service would primarily handle the matter.
What This Means for You
- Irresponsible actions on social media can have severe consequences.
- Elected officials should be held accountable for their words and actions, especially when they potentially threaten the safety of others.
- The Secret Service takes threats against the President seriously and will investigate any potential threats.
- It’s essential to be mindful of the potential interpretations of social media posts and to avoid language that could be perceived as threatening or violent.
Original Post
Irresponsible actions — even ones on social media — should have severe consequences. Or, at least, that’s what GOP Rep. Tim Burchett from Tennessee believes, if a strong and short X message is anything to go by.
The message? Arrest former FBI Director James Comey.
That serious call against a prominent political figure stems from Comey’s seemingly flippant Instagram use.
On Thursday, Comey took to social media and, in a now-deleted post, put up an image of some seashells and stones spelling out “8647.”
Many have interpreted this as a not-so-veiled threat on President Donald Trump’s life — including Burchett.
To “86” something can be used in a restaurant sense, as in “86”-ing something off the menu.
But many interpret “86”-ing something as removing it — often permanently or with some semblance of finality.
And making any sort of a threat on the sitting president’s life, open for interpretation or not, is a bridge too far for Burchett and other like-minded lawmakers.
While Sen. Josh Hawley didn’t outright call for action quite like Burchett, he did express exasperation at even implied rhetoric against Trump’s life.
Because two assassination attempts were apparently not enough for these people … pic.twitter.com/89GbQgVQmg
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 15, 2025
Perhaps most concerning for Comey, this little stunt appears to have caught the attention of FBI Director Kash Patel, who noted that the Secret Service would primarily handle this matter.
We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) May 15, 2025
“We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump,” Patel posted.
“We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.”
Key Terms
- James Comey
- Social Media Threat
- President Donald Trump
- Rep. Tim Burchett
- Secret Service Investigation
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