Overview

• James Comey described the deleted Instagram post, featuring seashells arranged as '86 47,' as an innocent political commentary inspired by a beach walk with his wife.
• The post has been interpreted by Trump and administration officials as a coded call for the president's assassination, a claim Comey has called 'crazy.'
• Comey voluntarily met with Secret Service agents at their Washington field office following their request to discuss the post; investigations by federal agencies remain ongoing.
• Comey maintains he opposes violence and deleted the post to avoid any association with such interpretations, but he does not regret sharing what he viewed as a clever artistic message.
• The controversy highlights broader debates over the interpretation of symbolic messages on social media in a politically polarized environment.