James Comey’s Indictment Raises Double Standards Over ’86 46′ Posts. We Are Next!
The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over his “86 47” social media post has sparked claims of a political double standard, with critics pointing to similar messages about former President Joe Biden that drew little scrutiny.
Comey was indicted Tuesday by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump, accused of making a criminal threat over a now-deleted Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to spell “86 47.”
Comey, a longtime Trump critic, has denied any violent intent, calling it “crazy” to interpret the post as a threat and saying he plans to contest the charges in court. And so will I if and when that time comes.
The number “86” is commonly used as slang meaning to get rid of something, while “47” refers to Trump’s position as the 47th president.
Social media users have since circulated examples of Republicans and conservatives posting “86 46” during Biden’s presidency, fueling debate over how such messages are interpreted and enforced.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the case is consistent with other prosecutions involving threats against public officials, referencing “multiple cases very similar to this one,” including one involving a threat against former President Biden.
It remains unclear which specific case he was referring to, and Newsweek could not identify any prior indictment tied specifically to an “86 47”-style post. Republicans do tell stories that turn out to be lies.
Multiple social media users have pointed to past examples of conservatives and Republican figures using similar language about former President Joe Biden, particularly the phrase “86 46.”
Screenshots circulating on X show conservative commentator Jack Posobiec posting “86 46” in January 2022. The post has resurfaced in recent days, with critics questioning why it did not prompt similar legal scrutiny.
Progressive media group MeidasTouch shared the image, asking: “When can we expect the indictment?”
Other users highlighted additional examples. A Substack writer known as “Outspoken” posted the same screenshot alongside images of merchandise bearing the “8646” slogan, arguing the phrase had been widely used without consequence. What About '86 46' Posts?
The account also pointed to a post from former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who in 2024 used “86’d” in reference to political figures stepping down. While the context differed, critics cited it as part of a broader pattern.
In February 2024, Gaetz shared an article about Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky stepping down as party leader with the caption: “We’ve now 86’d: McCarthy, McDaniel, McConnell. Better days are ahead for the Republican Party.”
The “Outspoken” writer captioned her post: “Republicans spent years posting ‘8646.’
“They printed it on shirts. They fundraised on it. Zero indictments. Comey indicted today for ‘8647.’”
Newsweek found that “8646” circulated on merchandise sold by independent vendors, but there is no evidence it was adopted by official Republican Party fundraising operations or senior party leadership.
Some commentators framed the contrast as a free-speech issue, with one user noting that similar posts during Biden’s presidency did not result in legal consequences.
