# Ted Cruz Insists That James Comey’s ’86’ Meant ‘Kill,’ Citing Nonexistent Mob Movies

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ted-cruz-insists-that-james-comeys-86-meant-kill-citing-nonexistent-mob-movies/
- Published: 2026-11-11T22:20:21+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T23:35:51+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/2026/11/11/ted-cruz-insists-that-james-comeys-86-meant-kill-citing-nonexistent-mob-movies/
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, Politics

## Key points

- Cruz says “86” means kill in the Comey case.
- The term commonly means to reject or get rid of something.
- Comey’s trial is scheduled for February.

## Summary

Sen Ted Cruz said on *Real Time With Bill Maher* that “86” means to kill someone, arguing that former FBI director James Comey’s “86 47” seashell post could be read as a call to kill President Donald Trump. Comey faces federal charges over the May 2025 Instagram post, and the meaning of the slogan is central to whether prosecutors can prove it was a threat.

The article says “86” commonly means to get rid of or refuse service to something, with roots in 1930s soda-counter slang. Comey’s lawyers argue that “86 47” was a widely used slogan of political opposition, including on merchandise and at protests. His trial is scheduled for February; prosecutors must meet legal standards for proving a true threat, including evidence about how Comey understood his message and how a reasonable recipient would interpret it.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.