Comey Downplays “8647” Controversy While Promoting Political Thriller Mirroring Real-Life Events
Former FBI Director Jim Comey attempted to shrug off growing scrutiny Wednesday during an appearance on CNN with John Berman, where he addressed a firestorm of criticism surrounding a cryptic photo he posted—one that many believe mirrors a veiled threat against President Donald Trump.
The image, posted on social media last week, featured seashells arranged in a formation resembling the numbers 8647—a sequence interpreted by many as shorthand for “86” (slang for “kill”) and “47” (referring to Trump as the potential 47th President). The controversy escalated when critics pointed out that the plot of Comey’s new novel involves a right-wing extremist inciting political violence through coded messages—eerily similar to the accusations being leveled against Comey himself.
“It’s a bit of a distraction,” Comey told Berman, brushing off the 8647 firestorm as an overblown conspiracy.
“I’ve never seen it used in that context or heard it used in that context.”
Secret Service Interviewed Comey After Suspicious Post
Comey confirmed that the Secret Service interviewed him regarding the controversial image.
“They’re total pros,” Comey said.
“We had a very similar conversation to the one you and I just had.”
He insisted the interaction was routine and that he left believing the agents accepted his explanation.
But critics aren’t buying it.
Book Plot Strikes Chilling Resemblance
The timing of Comey’s controversy couldn’t be more ironic—or suspicious. His new book, a political thriller, centers around a right-wing podcaster who uses suggestive language to inspire real-world violence—a storyline that now eerily reflects the public’s accusations against Comey himself.
“Not interesting to me,” Comey said of the similarities.
“It’s a bit of a distraction.”
Comey claimed the novel merely raises important questions about the intersection of protected speech and political violence.
Fiction or Foreshadowing?
Pressed about the novel’s uncanny resemblance to unfolding events, Comey dismissed the coincidence.
“Truth continues to surprise and be stranger than fiction,” he said, calling his work “very real fiction.”
The segment left many viewers unsettled, particularly given the political climate and the serious nature of perceived threats against high-profile leaders.
Whether the 8647 seashell image was a bizarre coincidence, coded messaging, or a deliberate provocation remains unclear. But for now, the former FBI director seems content to call it a distraction—while promoting a book that reflects the very behavior he’s accused of.