Ex-FBI Chief Comey Under Investigation Over ‘86 47’ Post, Noem Says

Forbes - May 15th, 2025

Former FBI Director James Comey is under investigation by the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security following an Instagram post he shared, which many interpreted as having violent connotations against former President Donald Trump. The post featured seashells arranged to spell '86 47,' a phrase critics suggest implies a threat toward Trump, the 47th president of the U.S., with '86' being slang for getting rid of something. Comey has since removed the post, apologizing for any misunderstanding and emphasizing his opposition to violence, while DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has accused him of inciting violence.

The investigation highlights tensions in U.S. political discourse and the sensitivities around perceived threats against political figures. The involvement of high-profile agencies like the Secret Service underscores the seriousness with which such matters are treated, even if unintended. This incident, involving a former FBI Director, also reflects the heightened scrutiny and potential repercussions of social media communications by public figures. The story is developing, and further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.

Donald Trump Department Of Homeland Security Political Violence Secret Service Social Media Controversy James Comey Instagram Post

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

5.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The story covers a topic of significant public interest with the potential to influence public opinion and spark debate. However, its accuracy is compromised by factual inaccuracies, such as the misidentification of Kristi Noem's role and the misleading reference to Trump as the 47th president. The lack of direct evidence and authoritative sources further weakens the story's reliability. While the article is timely and relevant, it would benefit from a more balanced representation of perspectives and greater transparency in sourcing. Despite these weaknesses, the story is engaging and likely to provoke discussion, particularly regarding the responsibilities of public figures in their communication on social media.

Accuracy

The story makes several factual claims that require verification, such as the involvement of the Secret Service and DHS in investigating James Comey. While these claims are mentioned in other sources, the story does not provide direct evidence or quotes from these agencies confirming the investigation. Additionally, the story refers to Kristi Noem as the DHS Secretary, which is factually incorrect, as she is the Governor of South Dakota. This misidentification affects the story's accuracy. Furthermore, the story's claim that Trump is the 47th president is misleading; Joe Biden is the current 46th president, and Trump has not been re-elected. These inaccuracies and the lack of direct source attribution lower the story's accuracy score.

Balance

The story presents a limited range of perspectives, primarily focusing on the interpretation of Comey's post as a call for violence. It includes reactions from Kristi Noem and Kash Patel, suggesting a bias towards those critical of Comey without providing a balanced view from Comey or his supporters. The story lacks input from neutral parties or experts who could offer a broader context on the implications of the post. This imbalance in perspective representation affects the story's overall balance.

Clarity

The story is generally clear in its language and structure, but it could be more explicit in detailing the context and implications of the claims. The narrative is straightforward, but the lack of clear attribution and context for the key claims can lead to confusion. Providing more background on the significance of the numbers '86 47' and the potential consequences of the investigation would improve clarity.

Source quality

The story lacks direct quotes or confirmation from primary sources such as the Secret Service, DHS, or Comey himself. It relies on secondary sources and interpretations, which diminishes its reliability. The absence of authoritative sources or a variety of viewpoints further weakens the source quality. The story would benefit from including statements or confirmations from the agencies involved or Comey's direct response to the situation.

Transparency

The story does not provide sufficient context or methodology for how the claims were verified. It lacks transparency in explaining how the information was obtained or which sources were consulted. The story's reliance on unnamed sources and the absence of direct quotes from involved parties obscure the basis of its claims. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would enhance the story's credibility.