The Secret Service placed former FBI Director James Comey under surveillance in May, tailing him in unmarked vehicles and tracking his cell phone – just one day after he posted a photo on Instagram that some Trump allies claimed suggested an assassination attempt. That’s according to a July 9 report by The New York Times, citing three government officials.
Trailed from North Carolina to Washington
Officials told the Times that Comey and his wife were followed by law enforcement as they drove from the North Carolina coast, where they were vacationing, through Virginia to their residence in the Washington area.
As the couple traveled, the Secret Service reportedly used cell phone data to monitor their location, with federal investigators waiting for Comey to arrive home. It’s unclear whether those trailing Comey were federal agents or local law enforcement.
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The social media post that sparked it
The surveillance came after Comey posted a picture on social media of seashells he spotted while walking on the beach with his wife. The shells appeared to read “86 47.” In slang, “86” can mean to eliminate or get rid of something, and “47” is seen by critics of President Donald Trump as a reference to the 47th president in his second term.
Political reaction and backlash
The post sparked immediate backlash from Trump allies. Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X, saying the former head of the FBI was “casually calling for my dad to be murdered.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media that Comey had “just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump.” She added, “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.”
Comey later deleted the post, saying he had not intended to promote violence and was unaware of the phrase’s broader interpretation. He reiterated that he opposes violence in any form.
Surveillance despite denial
Despite his explanation and lack of any history of violence, Comey was still subjected to physical and digital surveillance typically reserved for those considered an active threat to protectees. According to former officials interviewed by the Times, there was no evidence that Comey posed any threat.
Comey, a longtime critic of Trump, was surveilled under what government sources described as “exigent” circumstances – a law enforcement term justifying immediate action. But the Times noted it remains unclear what urgent danger Comey was believed to pose. At the time, Trump was traveling through the Middle East.
Overreach or retaliation?
The Secret Service has faced public criticism over recent assassination attempts against Trump. However, former U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade told the Times that this level of surveillance was “huge overkill.”
“The only rational basis for this action that I can think of is that someone said to themselves, ’We’ve got him, we are going to punish him for his mistakes,’” she said. “It almost seems like someone was exploiting the opportunity to exact retribution against one of President Trump’s enemies.”
The Secret Service declined to comment on the report, and the Justice Department did not say whether the investigation remains open. A spokesperson for Comey also declined to comment.
Comey has acknowledged being questioned by federal agents after the Instagram post, but said those who questioned him handled themselves in a professional manner.
History of tensions between Trump and Comey
Trump fired Comey in 2017 amid the FBI’s investigation into possible coordination between Trump’s 2015 campaign and Russia. Since then, Trump has repeatedly called Comey a “traitor” and a “leaker,” publicly pressuring the DOJ to indict him. Trump has also reportedly asked a White House chief of staff to “get the IRS on” Comey during his first term.
