A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Monday that protesters displaying a flag bearing the message “86 47” near the U.S. Capitol were engaging in protected political speech and not making a threat against President Donald Trump.U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, sided with Accountability Now USA, an advocacy group that has maintained a round-the-clock protest near the Capitol calling for Trump’s impeachment. The ruling came after members of the group said they were repeatedly pressured by law enforcement officials over several months to remove the flag and other signs.The decision arrives as a separate legal case unfolds involving former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted on charges of threatening the president after posting an Instagram photo showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” The same numbers have also appeared painted on Washington’s Reflecting Pool in recent weeks.
The Trump administration has argued that “86,” a term commonly used in restaurants to indicate an item should be removed or is unavailable, can also be interpreted as slang for killing someone. The number “47” is understood as a reference to Trump, as the nation’s 47th president.
