Federal officials announced their commitment to arresting and prosecuting the individual responsible for vandalizing a section of grass on the National Mall with the number ‘8647,’ a possible reference to President Donald Trump. The Department of Interior confirmed to Newsweek that an investigation has started.
The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated, department officials stated. Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable.
U.S. Park Police reported responding to the vandalism near the Washington Monument’s west lawn around 11:30 a.m. The numbers ‘8647’ were marked in the grass. However, the reason for the discoloration has yet to be determined. Grass samples are being tested, and the investigation is ongoing.
Online photos showed three digits clearly, while the ‘4’ was not well-defined. This incident surfaced days before a large crowd is expected in Washington for a UFC event coinciding with the president’s 80th birthday. The ‘8647’ numbers have been used publicly by critics, including former FBI Director James Comey. The Department of Justice indicted Comey in April for a social media post from last year featuring ‘8647’ written in seashells on a beach.
Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws, stated acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche in April. The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel in April, Comey’s actions supposedly promoted a threat by propagating the term ’86,’ meaning to get rid of something. Comey, known for criticizing the 47th president, later removed the Instagram post and claimed he was unaware that some people connect those numbers to violence.
Comey, 65, faces charges of threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. He denies any wrongdoing as he prepares for his trial in October.
In related judicial news, a federal judge ruled last week that the National Park Service cannot prohibit protesters from displaying an ’86-47′ flag near the National Mall. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss determined the symbol could not be reasonably perceived as a call to political violence, restricting NPS officials from removing the flag for 14 days under a temporary restraining order. The flag first appeared near a federal courthouse in early May.
Leave a Reply