Federal authorities have launched an investigation after giant markings reading “8647” appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., prompting condemnation from the White House and renewed attention to the controversial number sequence at the center of a criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey.
The markings were discovered Thursday, and U.S. Park Police confirmed officers responded to the scene and began investigating.
Officials have not yet determined how the discoloration was created.
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“The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined,” the U.S. Park Police said in a statement.
“Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.”
An Interior Department spokesperson described the incident as vandalism and said authorities are treating the matter seriously.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
The appearance of “8647” has drawn particular attention because the same number combination is central to the Justice Department’s prosecution of Comey.
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Federal prosecutors alleged that Comey threatened President Donald Trump by posting an Instagram photograph showing seashells arranged to display the numbers “8647.”
Trump is both the 45th and 47th president of the United States.
Comey deleted the image shortly after criticism emerged and later denied intending to advocate violence.
“I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” Comey wrote on Instagram after removing the post.
“It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
The former FBI director has since been indicted, and his legal team is seeking dismissal of the charges.
His attorneys argue that the prosecution is selective and politically motivated.
Supporters of Comey have also noted that the phrase “86 it” is commonly used in the restaurant industry to indicate that an item is sold out or should be removed from service.
Administration officials, however, reacted sharply to the National Mall incident.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle condemned both the markings and what he characterized as acceptance of political violence.
“Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible,” Ingle said.
“They should also immediately seek psychiatric help to treat their severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has warped their brains and made them sick in the head.”
The White House did not identify any suspects or offer evidence linking the markings to a specific individual or group.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which would oversee any criminal prosecution stemming from the incident, declined to comment.
Investigators have not announced whether they believe the markings were intended as political speech, vandalism or a threat.
Authorities also have not disclosed whether surveillance footage or witnesses have identified those responsible.
The investigation comes as debate continues over the meaning of “8647” and whether the number sequence should be interpreted as a political slogan, restaurant slang or a reference advocating violence.
The Justice Department has argued in Comey’s case that a reasonable person could interpret the message as a serious expression of intent to harm the president.
Comey has maintained that interpretation was never his intent.
For now, investigators are focused on determining how the markings appeared on one of the nation’s most prominent public spaces and who is responsible.
The identity of those behind the display remains unknown as federal authorities continue collecting evidence and analyzing samples from the National Mall, Trending Politics reported.
Until more information becomes available, officials have emphasized that the investigation remains active and no conclusions have been reached about the motive or meaning behind the incident.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
