Republican lawmakers have launched a formal effort to ensure that former FBI Director James Comey is permanently barred from ever holding federal office again—after a cryptic social media post sparked outrage and accusations of incitement against President Donald J. Trump.
The controversy ignited when Comey posted a now-deleted photo on Instagram featuring seashells arranged to spell out “8647.” Interpreted by many as a veiled call to “86” (slang for eliminate) the 47th President—Trump—Comey claimed ignorance of the phrase’s connotation. But Trump and congressional Republicans aren’t buying it.
“He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant,” Trump said. “That meant assassination.”
Now, the House Republican Study Committee has introduced a resolution that calls for two major actions:
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A lifetime prohibition on Comey ever serving in the U.S. government again.
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A comprehensive Department of Justice investigation into the post and any possible violations of federal law.
Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), chairman of the committee, denounced the former FBI chief in no uncertain terms:
“This was not just a tasteless joke. It was a dangerous, reckless signal from someone who once led the highest law enforcement agency in the land.”
Pfluger called Comey’s post a “shocking betrayal” of public trust and cited Comey’s prior role in the now-debunked Trump-Russia collusion hoax as part of a broader pattern of abuse.
Co-sponsor Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL), a former prosecutor and judge, warned that Comey’s message bore the hallmarks of coded threat speech.
“When a former top law enforcement official uses coded language like ‘86’ in a post referencing President Trump, it raises serious concerns under laws governing threats against federal officials,” she said.
The resolution urges the DOJ to release the results of their investigation to both Congress and the public—a move likely to trigger even more scrutiny of the embattled ex-director.
Even inside the FBI, the backlash is palpable. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, who now works under Director Kash Patel, issued a rare rebuke of his predecessor:
“James Comey brought shame to the FBI badge—again. We spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning up the mess he left behind.”
The GOP’s response marks a pivotal moment in the post-Comey era. The man once tasked with defending the law now finds himself accused of weaponizing language to stir violence—and facing a future where he may be legally barred from ever holding office again.
With tensions at a boiling point and trust in federal agencies already at historic lows, the question is no longer whether Comey meant what he posted—it’s whether Washington will finally treat such actions as criminal, not just controversial.
