Federal law enforcement has started an investigation into former FBI Director James Comey after an Instagram post sparked controversy nationwide. An image surfaced where seashells appeared on the beach shaped to spell the numbers “86 47.” When the image was first released, there was no comment, yet it soon caused concern and criticism among people who backed former President Donald Trump.
People in the United States often consider 86 to be shorthand for “eliminate,” and 47 is understood to point to Trump, the 47th president of the country. Because of the placement of the dates, many thought the post was hinting at a warning against Trump.
People argued right away that the picture seemed inappropriate and could suggest an encouragement of violence. After his words were seen by many, Comey removed the post and explained what he had meant.
According to him, the significance of the dates was not known to him and he had always rejected political violence. Even after the explanation, the post is being examined in a federal investigation, with help from both the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security.
Factoring into the issue is the political climate of the investigation. Jeanine Pirro might decide if any criminal charges will be brought against former FBI Director Comey. Pirro, a well-known Trump supporter, has publicly criticized many considered part of what she and others have termed the anti-Trump establishment. Because of her role, political tensions have appeared and legal experts are questioning whether prosecution decisions are truly impartial.
The final decision about whether to bring charges will be made by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi, who is connected to Trump and was attorney general of Florida, would need to judge the significance of going after someone as senior as James Comey for sharing a comment on Twitter. Should Bondi give his approval, Pirro will probably take over prosecuting the case which would allow the outcome to have strong public and political consequences.
It is clear that public figures are closely watched and today even chance movements can be turned into big controversies due to the Internet. The study also demonstrates that how events are understood often depends on which political side someone supports.
During the investigation, the outcome for Comey will be determined as well as the outcome for the issue of what politicians can say in times of political passion. Policy and legal outcomes may change and how authorities handling new challenges involving high-profile commentary could be affected.