A Family Text Enters the Record
A new exhibit in the federal criminal case against James Comey says his wife, Patrice Comey, received a sharp text from a family member over the disputed “86 47” Instagram post. Investigative reporter Paul Sperry quoted the message as saying, “I have held my tongue for a long time, but I just can’t do it anymore. You guys have really gone off the deep end over the years with your TDS. ‘86 47’ is a call for violence no matter how you spin it. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I am thoroughly embarrassed to have ever defended the absolute coward that is your husband. You and Jim are some of the least accepting, most hypocritical people I’ve had the displeasure of knowing. I hope Jim goes to jail for his crimes.” That is not exactly a Hallmark family note, unless Hallmark has opened a federal-evidence division.
The Google Search Detail
Sperry also reported last week that an FBI affidavit for a search warrant said Patrice Comey sent James Comey a Google screenshot of a nonviolent definition of “86” two minutes before he posted the shell photo on Instagram. According to Sperry, the affidavit described that timing as part of the presidential threat case. The detail matters because Comey has argued he did not understand the numbers as a violent message. If the reported affidavit is accurate, the timing at least raises the question of whether the couple knew the phrase might be read another way. Bureaucracies love paperwork, but every so often the paperwork loves them back.
The Instagram Post and the Charges
Comey posted the “8647” image on Instagram in May 2025, showing shells arranged in the sand, and captioned it, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” The source article says critics viewed “86 47” as a threat to “eliminate/kill” the 47th president. Earlier this year, a grand jury from the Eastern District of North Carolina indicted Comey on two felony counts. Count One alleges he knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States. Count Two alleges he knowingly and willfully transmitted in interstate and foreign commerce a communication containing a threat to kill President Donald J. Trump. The source says Comey faces up to 20 years in prison.
Comey’s Beach Walk Explanation
Comey first said on Instagram that he had posted a picture of shells he saw on a beach walk, assumed it was a political message, did not realize some people connect those numbers with violence, opposed violence of any kind, and took the post down. Later, he said he and Patrice were walking back toward the road when they saw shells arranged as numbers in the sand. He said Patrice asked why someone would put an address in the sand, and he replied that he thought it was some kind of political message. Comey then said Patrice remembered “86” from restaurant work as removing an item from a menu when ingredients ran out, while he knew it as meaning to leave or ditch a place. According to Comey, Patrice said it was clever and he should take a picture, so he did. The legal system will now decide what to make of that explanation, which is rather more layered than a beach walk usually needs to be.
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