In a recent reflection, former FBI Director James Comey recounted a peculiar episode from his tenure at the bureau. During a 2016 FBI briefing, Comey made a reference to a Beyoncé song, which was met with an unexpected silence from his colleagues. He shared this anecdote in a video posted on his Substack platform, offering a glimpse into the lighter, albeit awkward, moments of his leadership.
Having served as the FBI Director from 2013 until his dismissal in 2017 under President Donald Trump’s administration, Comey’s tenure was marked by significant events and controversies. His recent comments surface months after a federal judge dismissed charges against him related to false statements and obstruction of justice concerning his 2020 Senate testimony. This decision is not the end of the legal saga, as the Justice Department plans to appeal.
In an earlier incident from May 2025, Comey faced criticism when he posted a photo on Instagram featuring shells arranged to read “86 47.” This sparked outrage, as the numbers were interpreted by some as a coded message, with “86” implying “eliminate” and “47” potentially pointing to Trump. At the time, Trump was campaigning for the presidency against former Vice President Kamala Harris and had survived two assassination attempts in 2024.
Reacting to the backlash, Comey swiftly removed the post, explaining, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence … I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
In the wake of the public reaction, comments on Comey’s Instagram account were disabled, reflecting the ongoing sensitivities and controversies surrounding his public statements and actions.
Comey led the FBI from 2013 until he was fired in 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first administration. His remarks come months after a federal judge dismissed a 2025 indictment charging him with making false statements and obstruction of justice related to his 2020 Senate testimony, a ruling the Justice Department has indicated it will appeal.
In May 2025, Comey faced backlash after posting a photo on Instagram showing shells arranged in the numbers “86 47.” As – News reported at the time, the image showed a shell formation appearing as “86 47,” with “86” possibly meaning “eliminate” and “47” potentially meaning Trump. Trump had been the target of two failed assassination attempts in 2024 as he ran for president against former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Comey later removed the post and remarked in a follow-up statement: “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence … I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
Following public reaction, comments on Comey’s Instagram account were disabled.
