Former CIA Director John Brennan came to the defense of James Comey on Friday after the former FBI Director caused an uproar by posting a photo online that many believe was a veiled threat toward former President Donald Trump.
Comey’s post featured a photo of seashells arranged to read “86 47.” For many, that raised serious eyebrows. In popular slang, “86” can mean to eliminate or get rid of something — and when paired with “47” (which Trump would be if he wins in 2024), the message struck many as a chilling suggestion.
But according to Brennan, this was all just a big misunderstanding.
Speaking on MSNBC’s “Deadline,” Brennan said the backlash against Comey was overblown and insisted there was “absolutely no way” Comey was calling for violence:
“There’s absolutely no way that Jim Comey would have been advocating any type of violence against the President of the United States, much less anyone,” Brennan said.
He then tried to downplay the meaning of the post, claiming that “86” is just restaurant lingo — nothing more.
“Throughout my career, I’ve never heard 86 be used for any type of intent to kill or assassinate someone,” Brennan claimed. “86 is, you know, you discard something, you just ignore it.”
Still, Brennan acknowledged that Comey removed the post, calling that move “the right thing.”
Comey’s post was immediately condemned by many on the Right, including former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and others, who saw it as a thinly veiled threat. The phrase “86 47” doesn’t exactly require much imagination, especially in today’s heated political climate.
Even some current and former intelligence officials were shocked, with one saying it’s irresponsible and dangerous for someone like Comey — a former top law enforcement official — to post anything that could even remotely be interpreted as a call to harm a political opponent.
Yet Brennan dismissed those concerns too, accusing critics of trying to “fuel the fires.”
“It’s very unfortunate that we are in an era right now where individuals seize upon something like this and just fuel the fires,” Brennan said.
This whole situation raises questions about the double standards that continue to plague Washington. If a conservative figure posted something remotely similar about Joe Biden — let’s say, “86 46” — would the media and the intelligence community be rushing to defend it as an innocent restaurant joke?
Doubtful.
It also speaks to the kind of tone-deafness and arrogance that Americans have come to expect from the entrenched D.C. elite — the same figures who led the Russia hoax, spied on a presidential campaign, and weaponized federal agencies against political opponents.
Let’s not forget that Comey himself is no stranger to controversy. As FBI Director, he oversaw a highly politicized investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign, signed off on the now-debunked Steele Dossier, and fumbled the Hillary Clinton email investigation — all while claiming to be above politics.
Now, with a cryptic post and silence from the media, he’s once again being protected by familiar allies.
Brennan’s defense does little to assure critics that the intelligence community isn’t still playing favorites — and that some people get a free pass when they go after President Trump.
Brennan may be trying to brush off Comey’s post as nothing more than restaurant slang, but millions of Americans aren’t laughing. The message — intentional or not — came off as disturbing, especially from someone who once held immense power in the federal government.
And once again, we’re seeing one set of rules for the Left, and another for everyone else.
