FBI Director Kash Patel has condemned a former Coast Guard officer arrested for threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump, linking the threats to a controversial Instagram post shared by former FBI Director James Comey.
According to Fox News, Patel claimed the suspect used the same "86 47" language that appeared in Comey's now-deleted social media post.
Peter Stinson, who served in the Coast Guard from 1988 to 2021 with roles including sharpshooter and FEMA instructor, allegedly made multiple graphic threats against Trump. Court documents reveal Stinson made at least 13 references to the "86 47" message that Comey had posted in a photo showing seashells arranged in sand.
Former FBI Director's Post Under Scrutiny
Comey's Instagram post, which he deleted hours after publishing in May, sparked immediate backlash and prompted at least two interviews with the Secret Service. The "86" in the message is slang that can mean "to throw out" or "to get rid of," while "47" apparently referenced Trump's position as the 47th president.
In multiple public interviews since the incident, Comey has maintained he had no nefarious intentions. He claimed his wife associated the "86" term with her experience as a restaurant server, meaning to take something off the menu.
"I regret the distraction and the controversy around it," Comey said during an MSNBC appearance. "But again, it's hard to have regret about something that, even in hindsight, looks to me to be totally innocent."
Patel Claims Predictable Consequences
Patel, who now holds Comey's former position as FBI Director, expressed strong criticism of his predecessor's actions. He suggested the social media post had serious repercussions for the agency's operations and potentially inspired threats against the president.
"Tragically, this case was predictable," Patel told Fox News Digital regarding Stinson's alleged threats. "When former Director Comey first pulled his destructive Instagram stunt, it forced the FBI to pull numerous agents off of critical portfolios."
Patel added that the post resulted in "taking key personnel away from important initiatives protecting the American people to deal with an overwhelming number of copycats following Comey's lead and posting threatening messages against the president of the United States."
Suspect's History Of Threatening Communications
Court documents indicate many of Stinson's threats predated Comey's controversial post, including messages posted during the 2024 presidential campaign and in the run-up to Election Day. Stinson, described in documents as a "self-identified" member of Antifa, also appeared to reference the July 13 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
"Those secret service agents moved very slowly," Stinson allegedly posted at the time. "They left him in the open way to (sic) long. A missed opportunity will not come around again. They will teach this to future agents as a failure to protect and act."
In February, Stinson reportedly posted on X: "Sure. This is war. Sides will be drawn. Antifa always wins in the end. Violence is inherently necessary." His most recent documented threat came on June 11 via BlueSky, when he allegedly wrote, "When he dies, the party is going to be yuge."
Growing Concern Over Presidential Threats
Stinson's arrest comes amid heightened attention to threats against Trump, who has already survived two assassination attempts during his political career. Just weeks earlier, a federal grand jury indicted a San Bernardino County, California, man for allegedly threatening to assassinate Trump after his election victory.
Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed that case with stern language about the seriousness of such threats. "This defendant is charged with threatening the life of our President – a man who has already survived two deranged attempts on his life," Bondi stated.
The Justice Department has emphasized its commitment to prosecuting threats against the president "to the fullest extent of the law," reflecting growing concerns about political violence in an increasingly polarized climate.
