What Does '86 47' Mean?... Former FBI Director, Trump's Nemesis, Indicted Again

Former FBI Director James Comey, widely regarded as a nemesis of U.S. President Donald Trump, has reportedly been indicted again.

James Comey, former FBI Director and known adversary of U.S. President Donald Trump, has been indicted again. Photo by AP Yonhap News

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According to Yonhap News on April 28 (local time), citing AP and other sources, "Former Director Comey has been criminally charged for the second time in connection with an online post that sparked controversy for allegedly inciting violence against President Trump." A source familiar with the matter told foreign media that Comey was indicted over a photo he posted on social media last May, showing seashells arranged in the shape of "86 47." However, the specific charges against Comey have not been confirmed.

According to foreign media, the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly considers the photo a threat against President Trump. "86" means to ban or remove someone, and is also slang for killing a person.

Since President Trump is the 47th president of the United States, the phrase "86 47" has been interpreted as incitement to violence against him. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, commented about the post on his own social media, saying, "James Comey is just casually encouraging my dad to be killed."

After the controversy erupted, Comey immediately deleted the post and later stated, "I just happened to find the seashells; I did not arrange them myself and do not condone violence."

President Trump attended the White House Correspondents' Association annual dinner on the 25th. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

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Comey has long been in conflict with President Trump, particularly since he led the investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Trump win. In September of last year, he was indicted on charges such as perjury related to his testimony in the so-called "Russiagate" congressional hearings. However, the court dismissed the case, ruling that the prosecutor in charge of the indictment had been appointed illegally.

This latest indictment comes just three days after a shooting incident occurred at the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) annual dinner, which President Trump attended on April 25. Amid suspicions that the incident was an assassination attempt on President Trump, the president has now been directly exposed to gunfire three times in the past two years. Immediately after the shooting, he joked at a press conference, "I can't imagine a more dangerous job," and added, "If someone had told me it was this dangerous, I might not have run."

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