Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said: ‘That is a ridiculous and insane statement to make. Coming from a guy who is the former director of the FBI.
‘For Comey to think that we the American people, that he as a former FBI director, former prosecutor, would believe his lie that he didn’t know what this was calling for. The dangerousness of this cannot be understated.’
Others agreed with Gabbard, arguing the messaging of 86 47 has been widely understood in political circles since Trump returned to office.
The phrase has also featured on signs and posters at protests around the nation.
Critics said Comey’s denial also does not make sense, given he admitted that he knew it was a politically charged message.
Others have also questioned whether there is any truth to his argument that he simply stumbled upon the shells already in that formation on a beach, and chose to take a snap without fully understanding what it meant.
Gabbard argued that Comey’s status as a former figure of authority meant his message put Trump at further risk and could have been interpreted as a call to arms.
‘I’m very concerned for the President’s life, and James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this,’ she said.
Gabbard argued that a man in Georgia issued a threat against her life earlier this year, and that ‘today, he’s in jail. As he should be.
‘Whatever his [Comey’s] intent, he and people like him need to be held to account according to the law.
‘The rule of law says people like him who issue direct threats against the President of the United States, essentially issuing a call to assassinate him, must be held accountable.’
Gabbard slams Comey on his seashell explanation
American Buddhist Net 