Stephen Colbert and James Comey laugh off 8647 controversy
in a humorous segment on CBS’s *The Late Show*, host Stephen Colbert engaged in lighthearted banter with former FBI Director James Comey regarding Comey’s controversial Instagram post featuring the number “8647” written in shells on a beach. This post sparked criticism and speculation that it implied a message to eliminate President Donald Trump, given that “86” is slang for getting rid of something and Trump is considered the 47th president.
Colbert jokingly addressed Comey’s predicament, suggesting it was a clever way to promote his upcoming book and referring to it as a “viral campaign.” Comey explained the context of the photo, sharing that it was a fleeting thought during a walk with his wife, who interpreted it as a culinary reference typical in restaurant language.
After posting, Comey reportedly received a call from the Secret Service following Trump’s public condemnation of the post. Despite the uproar, Comey expressed that he had no regrets about sharing the photo, having recognized its political implications. Colbert praised Comey for generating notable attention for his book amidst the controversy.
Stephen Colbert and James Comey laugh off 8647 controversy: ‘Hell of a viral campaign’
Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert joked around with former FBI Director James Comey regarding his controversial 8647 Instagram post.
Comey came under fire for photographing and posting the number 8647 written in shells on the beach. The post has been interpreted by some to mean to take out President Donald Trump, as “86” means in slang to “get rid of” and as Trump is the 47th president.
“I was going to say that you landed in some hot water, but it’s not hot water, it’s just water,” Colbert told Comey on the Tuesday episode of CBS’s The Late Show. “I don’t know if you do this on purpose just to get attention, but … you ‘gramed this,” in reference to the post on Instagram.
“We were on a walk, preparing for this week, the rollout of my book,” Comey said. His wife, Patrice, “looked at it and said, ‘Why did someone put their address in the sand?’ We looked at it, trying to figure out what it was. She’d long been a server in restaurants, she said, ‘You know I think it is, I think it’s a reference to restaurants when you 86 something.’ When I was a kid, he would say ’86’ to get out of a place.”
However, Comey couldn’t deny the political inference made by the post.
“I said, ‘I think it’s a clever political message,’” Comey said. “She said, ‘You should take a picture of that.’ I said, ‘Sure.’ She said, ‘You should Instagram that,’ and boom.”
Comey confirmed that the Secret Service called him Friday night, when Trump went public with his condemnation of the post. Since being interviewed, Comey said, “I hope and expect that’s the end of it.”
“Well, congratulations on the attention for your book,” Colbert said prompting laughter from Comey. “That is one hell of a viral campaign.”
JAMES COMEY INTERVIEWED BY SECRET SERVICE OVER ‘8647’ POST
Trump rejected Comey’s subsequent apologies for the post that is no longer live on Instagram. The president insists that the former FBI director knew “that meant assassination.”
Comey last appeared on The Late Show to promote his last book, which was a memoir of his time working for the FBI and with Trump. His latest release, FDR Drive, is a crime novel.
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