Acting AG Opens Door to Whitmer Probe After Comey Indictment Over Trump Threat
Acting Attorney General says federal prosecutors will investigate “other instances of threats” against Trump after indicting former FBI Director James Comey over coded message.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated Tuesday that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer could face a federal investigation over an “86 45” emblem that appeared in the background during a virtual television appearance she made in 2020.
This development follows the Justice Department’s indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over a photo he posted last year showing seashells arranged on a beach to read “86 47,” which prosecutors claim constituted a threat against President Donald Trump’s life.
“Other instances of threats against the president of the United States will be investigated,” Blanche told reporters during a press conference Tuesday following the Comey indictment.
Restaurant Slang Takes Center Stage
The term “86” originates from restaurant industry slang used to signal that something should be removed, such as a menu item that’s out of stock or a disorderly person in a bar. Trump serves as both the 45th and 47th president, making “86 45” and “86 47” references to removing him from office.
Whitmer’s “86 45” emblem was visible during her October 2020 appearance on “Meet the Press,” which was recorded just days after federal agents thwarted an alleged plot to kidnap and kill the governor. Trump’s 2020 campaign accused Whitmer of “encouraging assassination attempts” against the president by displaying the emblem.
No Definitive Ruling on Whitmer Case
When specifically asked whether Whitmer’s 2020 appearance would be investigated, Blanche refused to rule out the possibility but emphasized that each case would be evaluated individually.
“Every case is different. The facts are different. Who makes the threat matters? What the threat says matters,” Blanche said during the press conference.
The acting attorney general also cautioned against drawing direct comparisons between cases. “You cannot compare,” Blanche stated. “It’s not fair to the American people, it’s not fair to the defendant, and it’s certainly not fair to the prosecutors to compare, ‘well, if you did it here, why didn’t you do it there?'”
Timing Adds Political Complexity
The potential investigation into Whitmer carries significant political implications, given that her 2020 television appearance occurred during a particularly volatile period. The “Meet the Press” interview took place shortly after federal law enforcement agencies disrupted what they described as a serious threat to the governor’s safety.
The Justice Department’s pursuit of the Comey case appears to signal a broader effort to investigate perceived threats against Trump, who returned to office in January 2025 for his second term as president.
Blanche’s comments suggest that federal prosecutors are reviewing other instances where similar coded language or symbols may have been used in connection with Trump, though he provided no timeline for when decisions about additional investigations might be made.
