Former FBI Director James Comey defended his Instagram post of '86 47' seashells, saying he had no ill intent but that he did regret the distraction it caused.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary traces “86” to “1930s soda-counter slang meaning that an item was sold out. There is varying anecdotal evidence about why the term eighty-six was used, but the most common theory is that it is rhyming slang for nix.”

James Comey’s controversial, now-deleted Instagram photo of seashells spelling out the numbers “86 47” only adds to a long list of social media posts from the former FBI director that have sparked a mix of both anger and — more often — a heavy dose of eye rolls.

Former FBI director James Comey says he’s baffled that a beach photo he posted led to accusations of threatening Donald Trump—and an in-person interview with the Secret Service.

Former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director James Comey pointed fingers at President Donald Trump’s administration Monday for their so-called