James Comey investigated over seashell photo claimed to be ‘threat’ against Trump

Ex-FBI director deletes Instagram post of shells in ‘8647’ formation that Republicans claim is code for assassination

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with James Comey, then director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during an Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on January 22, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

A photo of seashells posted on Instagram by the former FBI director James Comey is now being investigated by the US Secret Service, after the US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said it constituted a “threat” against Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Comey posted a photo of seashells forming the message “8647”, with a caption that read: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”