FBI Director Patel links threats against President Trump to a former director’s “destructive” Instagram post, as federal charges are filed.

Patel Criticizes Comey’s Instagram Post Amid Threats

FBI Director Kash Patel has sharply criticized his predecessor, James Comey, for a social media post that Patel says contributed to threats against President Donald Trump. In a statement posted Tuesday, Patel addressed the recent arrest of Peter Stinson, a former Coast Guard officer charged with making graphic threats to assassinate the president. According to Patel, Stinson used the “86 47” message—originally featured in a now-deleted Instagram post by Comey—as a repeated motif in his threats.

Comey’s post, which displayed shells arranged to spell “86 47” on a beach, was deleted hours after being published. The photo prompted backlash and two interviews with Secret Service officials. While Comey has publicly stated he intended no harm—explaining the number was a reference to restaurant slang for “removal”—Patel called the post a “destructive stunt.” He argued that it distracted federal agents from critical cases and led to a surge of copycat threats against the president.

“This is a guy who threatened President Trump’s life using the ‘86 47’ language,” Patel said of Stinson, noting that the former Coast Guard member will appear in federal court for the first time on Wednesday. Stinson allegedly posted numerous threats on social media, including references to prior assassination attempts on President Trump and statements such as, “When he dies, the party is going to be yuge.”

Law Enforcement Responds to Presidential Threats

Stinson, who described himself as a member of Antifa, allegedly posted about the July 13 attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, critiquing the response of Secret Service agents and suggesting “a missed opportunity will not come around again.” Authorities noted that some of Stinson’s threats predate the Comey post, occurring before the 2024 election and during the campaign period. Stinson also made comments about political violence being “inherently necessary.”

Patel acknowledged the challenge for law enforcement, stating, “Tragically, this case was predictable.” He commended FBI and law enforcement teams for their vigilance and success in preventing violence against the president. Comey, meanwhile, is not under investigation for his Instagram post and has said neither he nor his wife intended any malicious meaning.

News of Stinson’s arrest follows the recent indictment of another man for allegedly threatening to assassinate Trump after his re-election. Attorney General Pam Bondi reaffirmed the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting threats against the president “to the fullest extent of the law.” The case highlights ongoing security risks facing President Trump and the challenges posed by social media in amplifying dangerous rhetoric.