Overview

• Patel told Fox News that the image of seashells arranged to spell “8647” inspired copycat threats against former President Trump, leading the FBI to pull agents from child exploitation, drug trafficking and counterterrorism cases.
• Comey said on CNN he never associated “86” with murder and removed the post after critics interpreted it as an assassination threat.
• He accused current FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino of lacking the experience to lead the bureau and urged them to rely on career officials.
• The Secret Service investigated the deleted seashell photo as a potential threat to the president’s safety.
• At a recent book signing, Comey declined to clarify his ‘white supremacist adjacent’ characterization of the Republican Party he made on MSNBC.