Last week, there was a significant incident involving former FBI Director James Comey, who shared a photo on social media depicting shells on a beach arranged in a way that formed the numbers “86 47.” Some individuals perceived this as a potential threat against President Donald Trump, as the term “86” is often slang for causing harm to someone.
Following a wave of criticism, Comey took down the post and stated that he had not realized the potential for a violent interpretation of the message. However, his action still led to an interview with the Secret Service to address the situation.
Former CIA Director John Brennan came to his defense, saying he, Brennan, didn’t understand that expression either.
So we have to conclude either they’re not telling us the truth, or they’re the most ignorant law enforcement/intel people.
MSNBC not only provided a platform for the controversial figure Brennan but also hosted Comey on a segment with Nicolle Wallace, where he had the opportunity to clarify his intentions behind the post and discuss his new book. During the interview, Comey expressed surprise at facing scrutiny for what he considered a simple stroll on the beach with his wife.
Nicolle Wallace: “You are back in the middle of a political firestorm.”
James Comey: “Yeah, for walking on the beach with my wife.” pic.twitter.com/WkmcDdEz8I
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 19, 2025
Um, it was far more than “walking on the beach with your wife.” Now, he’s acting like the poor, beset upon victim.
Listen as he describes here that he recognized it as a political statement, but still thinks it was a “clever way to express a political viewpoint,” and took time to make with the different colored shells.
James Comey adopts the ‘Aw-Shucks’ defense —
— says he’s just an old granddad that wears sweaters and jeans who saw some shells with an “artistic flair” and wanted to take a “silly picture.”
“I thought, what a clever way to express a political view.”
“The shells were the same… pic.twitter.com/YckBVrmZf3
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 19, 2025
That is incredibly twisted. He’s admitting he knew it was political, but he posted it anyway?
Yet even now, knowing what it means, he thinks it’s “clever” and took so much time, and thought? How was this guy ever the FBI Director?
“What a clever way to express a political view!” he crowed.
“The shells were the same color for each of the letters, the different colors for the letters. It took a lot of work. Somebody with artistic flair did that. And I have a hard time believing it was anybody with a, a dark intention.
And it certainly was no dark intention on my part, or my spouse’s part.”
No, it’s not clever. Anyone who thinks it was clever is truly warped.
Oh, and that wasn’t the first shell message he “found” on the beach. He’d previously found a Kamala Harris shell message.
So…James Comey endorses and promoted Kamala Harris with a seashell on the beach down his Instagram wall….but now today he just happened to come across random seashells spelling out to 86 47 and it is just a happenstance. Interesting political beach he inhabits. pic.twitter.com/GDD4J0DIW9
— Brian Ralston (@brianralston) May 16, 2025
I live near the beach, and maybe I live in a mellow, less political area, but funny how I don’t find these shell messages. Odd how Comey does.
Comey also wants you to buy his book. Odd the coincidence. It’s about a right-wing podcaster (of course), where there’s a question of holding someone accountable and the line between speech and crime.
Nicolle Wallace is helping James Comey sell his new “crime novel.” pic.twitter.com/mJyLwCmOOk
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 19, 2025
Can I say again how lucky we are that Trump is in office, and Democrats are no longer in power?
