Federal authorities are investigating after giant markings reading “8647” appeared on the National Mall in Washington on Thursday, sparking accusations of political violence from the White House and outrage from administration officials.
An Interior Department spokesperson blasted the incident as “deranged” vandalism and vowed those responsible would face consequences.
“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.
U.S. Park Police confirmed officers responded Thursday morning and launched an investigation into the mysterious markings.
“The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined,” the office said. “Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.”
The appearance of “8647” comes as the same number sequence sits at the center of the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey.
Comey was indicted in April after the Justice Department alleged he threatened President Donald Trump by posting an Instagram photo last year showing seashells arranged to display “8647.” Trump serves as both the 45th and 47th president.
The former FBI chief quickly deleted the image and later insisted he never intended to convey a violent message.
“I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” Comey wrote on Instagram in May of last year. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
Following his indictment, Comey released a video maintaining his innocence. His attorneys have argued the charges should be thrown out, claiming he is being targeted through a vindictive and selective prosecution.
Supporters of Comey and some food service workers have pointed out that the phrase “86 it” is commonly used in restaurants to indicate an item has sold out and should be removed from the menu.
The White House, however, issued a scathing response to the National Mall incident.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement, “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible. 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.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which would oversee any potential prosecution tied to the incident, declined to comment.
The identity of those behind the “8647” markings remains unknown as investigators continue to examine evidence collected from the scene.
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