Comey’s Latest Attempt to Walk Back Controversial Shell Pic Just Made It Worse

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Former FBI Director James Comey is once again under fire, this time for defending a controversial social media post many saw as a veiled threat toward former President Donald Trump. Comey now claims the phrase “86 47” was simply a misunderstood political joke.

Key Facts:

  • James Comey appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to defend his “86 47” beach photo post, calling it a harmless political message.
  • Comey said he and his wife saw the message in seashells during a beach walk and assumed it was referencing a political sentiment.
  • Colbert, a former bartender, offered his own spin, saying “86” could mean cutting off a drunk customer, trying to downplay the meaning.
  • The post sparked backlash, prompting the Secret Service to interview Comey, and he later deleted the image from Instagram.
  • Comey was promoting his new legal thriller, FDR Drive, during the Colbert appearance.

The Rest of The Story:

Comey posted a photo to Instagram showing seashells arranged to spell out “86 47,” widely interpreted online as a coded call to remove the 47th president — Donald Trump.

After intense criticism, he removed the image and claimed he didn’t realize the phrase could be seen as violent.

In his appearance with Stephen Colbert, Comey said he thought “86 47” was a clever, if cheeky, political statement.

He recalled the phrase from his youth, suggesting it just meant to leave or reject something.

“I remember when I was a kid, you would say ‘86’ to get out of a place. ‘This place stinks, let’s 86 it,’” Comey said.

His wife, Patrice, reportedly saw it first and made the initial observation.

Comey also acknowledged the Secret Service contacted him for an interview after the incident.

He maintains that he opposes violence of any kind and regrets the misunderstanding.

Commentary:

Let’s not kid ourselves. “86 47” isn’t a deep literary reference or a cute double entendre.

Everyone knows what it means — get rid of the 47th president.

James Comey admitted he recognized it as a political message, but now wants to claim innocence when it comes to its darker undertones.

This is a man who ran the FBI.

He didn’t just stumble out of a beachside bookstore with no clue how politically charged that message was.

He fully understood the implications, but chose to post it anyway.

The explanation that it’s an old restaurant term, or something kids said to leave a bad party, simply doesn’t fly — especially coming from someone who once held one of the most powerful positions in the country.

To bring his wife into the mix and frame the moment as a wholesome walk on the beach only makes it more absurd.

This isn’t a rom-com.

This is a man who has used his position for years to wage political battles and now plays the role of the clueless retiree.

Even Stephen Colbert couldn’t fully defend the moment without conjuring up a weak food-service analogy.

The entire exchange was designed to put a glossy spin on what millions saw as a veiled threat.

And let’s not ignore the most serious aspect — the Secret Service is now investigating.

That’s not a joke.

That’s a signal that what Comey did wasn’t just in bad taste — it could be interpreted as dangerous.

The Bottom Line:

James Comey’s explanation for the “86 47” post is deeply unconvincing.

Despite his claim that it was a misunderstood political jab, he knew full well how the message would be received.

His past role as FBI Director only makes the defense more implausible.

While he may have deleted the post, the impression it left — and the questions it raises — won’t disappear so easily.

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