2025 House Resolution 112

Whereas, On May 15, 2025, James Comey, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, posted a photograph of an arrangement of seashells on Instagram in the formation of “8647,” mentioning the “cool shell formation.” After the post provoked criticism, Comey deleted the post; and

Whereas, The code “8647” is commonly used to connote malicious intent, namely an invitation of violence towards President Donald J. Trump. The number 86 is commonly used as a phrase meaning “remove” or “get rid of,” and the number 47 refers to the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump; and

Whereas, Governor Gretchen Whitmer used similarly dangerous tactics with the prominent display of the code “8645” during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, October 18, 2020. Displaying “8645” during the interview was a clear declaration of hostility against then-45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump; and

Whereas, James Comey cannot reasonably claim that he was unaware of the meaning of the code “8647.” Just as Governor Whitmer was culpable in helping to foster an atmosphere that led to multiple assassination attempts on President Trump, there are no grounds on which the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation can justify his decision to broadcast a message that recklessly endangers the life of the sitting President; and

Whereas, The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects the right to free speech, but it does not protect the right to unnecessarily endanger others, knowingly and willfully threatening the well-being of another individual by inviting the assassination of the President of the United States. The public encouragement of political violence is abhorrent, morally reprehensible, and intolerable, and it should be thoroughly disavowed; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Federal Bureau of Investigation to condemn the use of the expression “8647” due to its symbolism and implications, including the use of this code by James Comey, former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in a social media post on May 15, 2025; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Governor of Michigan, and James Comey.