'8647' Leads to Indictment of James Comey: What’s Behind the Controversy?
A demonstrator brandished an "8647" sign during a "No Kings" protest in Louisville, Kentucky, back in June 2025, encapsulating a multifaceted anti-Trump sentiment.
This week, former FBI Director James Comey faced charges stemming from a social media post he made over a year ago. The Justice Department claims that a seemingly innocuous image of seashells arranged to form the numbers "8647" posed a threat to President Trump's life.
A grand jury issued an indictment on Tuesday, asserting that Comey "did knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States" through his May 2025 post featuring the shell arrangement on a North Carolina beach.
The arrangement's meaning is ambiguous; however, "eighty-six" is widely interpreted as slang for "get rid of," while Trump is recognized as both the 45th and 47th president.
"I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let's go," Comey stated in a video response on Substack, addressing the indictment that could lead to a decade behind bars.
Since his dismissal by Trump in 2017, Comey has been a vocal critic of the former president, particularly during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Last year, Comey claimed he viewed the shell formation as a political statement, stating, "I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence." Following backlash from Republican circles and Trump family members, he promptly deleted the post. Nevertheless, this did not prevent an investigation from being launched by administration officials.
The Trump administration has aggressively pursued legal actions against perceived political adversaries. Just months prior, an attempt was made to indict Comey related to his congressional testimony in 2020; however, those charges were dismissed by a federal judge due to improper appointment of the prosecutor.
This latest indictment arrives shortly after a gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, allegedly targeting administration officials. Trump has survived two assassination attempts in the past, prompting Justice Department officials to emphasize their seriousness regarding threats against the president.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche dismissed inquiries about proving Comey's intent, especially given his apology and subsequent deletion of the post.
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"You prove intent with witnesses, with documents, with the defendant himself to the extent … it's appropriate," he explained. "And that's how we'll prove intent in this case."
The interpretation of those four numbers may play a crucial role in this legal battle.
The term "eighty-six" is believed to have originated from 20th-century soda counter slang. According to Merriam-Webster, it likely emerged in the 1930s to indicate that an item was sold out. A 1993 article noted that soda-fountain lingo included phrases like "eighty-six," meaning all out of it.
By the 1950s, its meaning evolved to encompass refusing service to customers and later expanded to imply "to get rid of" or "to throw out."
In a historical context, saloonkeepers would sometimes switch patrons' drinks to higher-proof liquor when they became overly intoxicated—a practice referred to as "eighty-sixing" them.
Merriam-Webster acknowledges that while "to kill" is a logical extension of "eighty-six," it is not included in its official definition due to its recent emergence and limited usage.
The political implications of "eighty-six" gained traction in 2018 when Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant. The staff's note reading "86 Sarah Huckabee Sanders" went viral.
In October 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appeared in a Zoom interview with an "8645" pin visible behind her, leading some Republicans to speculate about its violent connotations. Whitmer's team later argued that the Trump campaign's reaction indicated ignorance of restaurant industry terminology.
Anne Curzan, a linguist at the University of Michigan, suggested that the most relevant interpretation of "8645" was akin to being fired or asked to leave.
When asked about potential future cases against others like Whitmer, Blanche refrained from commenting on ongoing investigations but affirmed that threats against the president would be thoroughly examined.
The "8647" slogan has emerged as a subtle code for anti-Trump sentiment, proliferating on TikTok and protest signs since his inauguration. An online publication noted that it signifies opposition to Trump's presidency without explicitly detailing how that opposition manifests.
Merchandise emblazoned with "8647," including shirts and bumper stickers, is available on platforms like Amazon and Etsy. Interestingly, similar items referencing former President Joe Biden—termed "8646"—are also for sale.
Critics on social media have pointed out that Republicans seemed unconcerned when similar rhetoric was directed at Democratic leaders. They cite instances of violent imagery used by Trump and his allies, including a 2024 post featuring Biden tied up in a truck video and past incidents involving violent animations shared by prominent conservatives.
In 2022, far-right influencer Jack Posobiec tweeted "86 46," while then-Rep. Matt Gaetz used the term regarding Republicans ousted from office without facing significant backlash at the time.
This evolving narrative surrounding "8647" continues to unfold as legal ramifications and political discourse intersect in unprecedented ways.
