FBI asked ‘Sammy the Bull’ if ex-Gambino mob prosecutor Comey knew meaning of ’86’: court filing
Court documents state that the FBI interviewed former Gambino crime family underboss Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano about whether former FBI Director James Comey would have understood the meaning of “86”. Gravano reportedly said Comey “had to know”, citing Comey’s earlier work as a prosecutor in a major Gambino case; the issue matters because the term’s meaning can imply removal or, in some contexts, killing.
The interview took place in a May 2026 phone call with an FBI case agent, according to the filing. Gravano knew Comey from the 1990s prosecution of United States v. John Gambino et al., in which Comey was lead prosecutor.
- Gravano told the FBI Comey likely understood “86”.
- The FBI interview is described in court documents.
- Comey prosecuted a major Gambino case in the 1990s.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those arguing that Comey would have understood “86” as potentially referring to killing contend that his experience as lead prosecutor in a major Gambino case gave him unusual familiarity with organised-crime language and its violent implications. Gravano’s account, as a former Gambino underboss who worked with Comey in that setting, is presented as informed evidence that such a meaning would not have been obscure to him.
The case against
Those disputing that conclusion argue that “86” has several commonplace meanings, most often to remove, reject or cancel something, and that familiarity with mob cases does not establish how Comey understood any particular use. They may also caution that Gravano’s retrospective opinion is not proof of Comey’s state of mind, especially without the full wording, context and corroborating evidence surrounding the relevant statement.