FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino on Sunday slammed former bureau chief James Comey, calling him out for a now-deleted Instagram submit many noticed as threatening in the direction of Donald Trump.Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 till he was dismissed by Trump in 2017, induced a storm final week after posting a cryptic picture of seashells organized to learn “86 47”. The quantity “86” is broadly interpreted to imply “eliminate”, and Trump is the forty seventh US president. The submit was rapidly eliminated, however not earlier than sparking outrage.Bongino stated that present FBI Director Kash Patel and he are ‘cleansing up messes’ left behind by Comey.“Former FBI Director James Comey introduced disgrace to the FBI badge, but once more, this previous week,” Bongino wrote in a submit on X. “The Director and I spend an inordinate period of time cleansing up messes left behind by former Director Comey. And his newest actions aren’t any exception.”Comey denied any violent intent, saying, “It by no means occurred to me however I oppose violence of any type so I took the submit down.” In an additional assertion, he added, “I didn’t realise some of us affiliate these numbers with violence.”However Trump rejected that rationalization. “He knew precisely what that meant. A toddler is aware of what that meant,” Trump informed Fox Information. “In case you’re the FBI director, and also you don’t know what that meant, that meant ‘assassination,’ and it says it loud and clear.”The Secret Service has since interviewed Comey concerning the submit, whereas FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau was “in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran” relating to the matter.Bongino didn’t maintain again in his evaluation of Comey’s legacy. “Because the Deputy Director of the FBI, I’m charged, standing with Director Patel, with managing probably the most highly effective legislation enforcement company on the planet,” he wrote. “The Director and I are additionally liable for taking a look at grave errors made by individuals throughout the FBI previously, and guaranteeing they by no means occur once more.”Whereas Bongino emphasised the FBI doesn’t immediately examine threats towards the president, he stated the company has “the power and authority to assist different federal companies for violations of federal legislation. And we actually have a accountability to touch upon issues involving former FBI officers, and allegations of law-breaking.”He and Patel additionally hinted at extra revelations to come back, particularly relating to previous FBI operations like Crossfire Hurricane and the Capitol riot investigations. “I can’t submit overtly about all of the issues the Director and I are doing to reform the enterprise, however I guarantee you, they’re taking place,” he stated. “Sadly, lots of these agenda objects are the results of former Director Comey’s poor decision-making and atrocious management.”Bongino defined that he selected to talk out now as a result of his interview with Maria Bartiromo, airing Sunday, was recorded earlier than Comey’s submit emerged. He ended his assertion with a patriotic message: “God bless America, and all those that defend Her.”
