The Digital Breadcrumbs of a Dangerous Message
Let’s be crystal clear about what happened: The former director of the FBI, the man once entrusted with the nation’s most sensitive secrets and highest law enforcement powers, posted what many interpret as a coded call to eliminate the 47th President of the United States. For those unfamiliar with restaurant slang, “86” commonly means to remove or dispose of something. Put it together with “47” – Trump’s presidential number – and the implications become disturbingly clear.Comey’s weak defense that he “didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence” stretches credibility beyond the breaking point. This is a man who spent decades prosecuting mobsters and leading federal investigations. Are we seriously supposed to believe he didn’t understand the implications of what he posted?
The Establishment Circles the Wagons
The reaction from official Washington has been swift and severe. FBI Director Kash Patel announced his department is “aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump” and is “in communication with the Secret Service.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went further, declaring that “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard pulled no punches: “James Comey just issued a call to action to murder the President of the United States… He knew exactly what he was doing and must be held accountable under the full force of the law.”
Yet while law enforcement takes the threat seriously, some media personalities are rushing to provide cover. CNN legal analyst Elie Honig dismissed concerns as “ridiculous,” claiming the post was merely “stupid” and “reckless” but “not criminal.” This is the same establishment media that has spent years hyperventilating over every perceived rhetorical excess from the political right.
A Pattern of Political Weaponization
This incident doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It represents the culmination of Comey’s transformation from law enforcement official to political operative. After Trump fired him in 2017, Comey leaked his own memos of conversations with the President to a friend, with the explicit purpose of triggering a special counsel investigation. He later endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, declaring, “Kamala Harris made me feel like it’s finally morning in America.”The Department of Justice’s own Inspector General concluded that Comey violated DOJ and FBI policies in his handling of sensitive information. The August 2019 report stated Comey “failed to return Memos 2, 4, 6, and 7 after being removed as FBI Director” and “improperly disclosed FBI documents and information.” This is the man now posting what appears to be a call for violence against a former president who survived two assassination attempts this year alone.
The Double Standard is the Standard
Ask yourself this: What would happen if a former Trump administration official posted a similar message about President Biden? The person would be arrested before their delete button cooled down. Their name would be plastered across every news channel in America. Congressional hearings would be scheduled before sunset.Instead, we’re treated to excuse-making and deflection from the same media establishment that demands accountability only from one side of the political spectrum. The double standard isn’t just hypocritical – it’s dangerous.
The Erosion of Public Trust
This episode reveals the complete collapse of institutional credibility in America. When a former FBI Director can post what appears to be a thinly veiled call for violence against a former president and receive only mild rebuke from certain quarters, how can ordinary Americans trust these institutions?The American people aren’t stupid. They see the game being played. They understand that the rules apply differently depending on your political tribe. And they’re increasingly concluding that the entire system is rigged against them.
The Path Forward Demands Accountability
If we have any hope of pulling back from the brink, it starts with equal application of the law. No more special treatment for the political elite. No more excuses for reckless rhetoric that would destroy the lives of ordinary citizens.James Comey’s Instagram post wasn’t just a momentary lapse in judgment – it was a revealing glimpse into the mindset of those who view themselves as above the rules that govern the rest of us. If we care about preserving what’s left of our democratic institutions, we need to hold him accountable to the same standards that would apply to anyone else.
Because if we don’t, the message will be loud and clear: Some people are simply above the law. And that’s a message no free society can afford to send.
Related Topics
- The Weaponization of Federal Law Enforcement
- Political Violence and Rhetoric in America
- Media Double Standards in Political Coverage
- The Inspector General’s Report on James Comey
- Social Media’s Impact on Democratic Discourse