Someone vandalized the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Thursday by carving or burning “86 47” into one of its grassy areas.
The White House has argued that the message “86 47” is a threat against President Donald Trump’s life.
Footage of the phrase, often used in a slang way to refer to killing or getting rid of someone, went viral online.
It is unclear who made the message or how, but the grass appears deliberately burned or discolored.
The United States Park Police said they were investigating.
U.S. Park Police said it’s investigating the matter.
“Grass samples have been collected for testing,” the agency told media outlets.
White House Spokesman Davis Ingle denounced the act, saying, “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible.”
The phrase “86 47” has been used often by Trump critics, including fired FBI Director James B. Comey.
Last year, Comey posted a photo on Instagram of seashells on a beach forming the numbers “86 47,” prompting an inquiry by the U.S. Secret Service.
Last month, Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan accused Comey of committing multiple offenses, including what he described as a threat against President Trump.
Jordan made the comments during an interview with Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer while discussing a social media controversy involving Comey.
“So this is what he posted on Instagram then took it down: 86-47,” Hemmer said. “As we all know, 86 is an old phrase for get rid of someone.”
Hemmer referenced Comey’s explanation that the image was simply something he noticed while walking on a beach in North Carolina.
Jordan rejected that explanation and argued the post carried a threatening meaning.
“Well, it’s is a crime to threaten the president. 18 USC Section 871. So you can’t do that. And he obviously did,” Jordan said.
“Now, he tries to tell us No, no, no. He was just strolling on the beach one morning drinking his coffee and the good lord washed up on shore and the shells formed 86-47 and he took a picture of it,” Jordan said.
“OK, that’s his story. I don’t think anyone buys that,” he added.
Jordan then broadened his criticism, tying the controversy to Comey’s role in the early Trump-Russia investigation.
“But you can’t threaten the president,” Jordan said. “I think it’s important to remember this is Jim Comey who started it all.”
“This 10-year attack on the president of the United States, on President Trump started with Comey,” he continued.
A federal judge has been assigned to preside over Comey’s case after the Justice Department issued new charges against him late last month.
U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan of the Eastern District of North Carolina was appointed by George W. Bush and is considered to be right-leaning, according to Ballotpedia.
In an interview last weekend, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made it clear that Comey’s indictment was the result of a year-long investigation and had much more to it than his seashells photo posted to Instagram.
“Every case requires an investigation, and what you just showed is one part of that investigation. What you just showed is the Instagram post,” he told Fox News.
“Rest assured that the career Assistant United States Attorneys in North Carolina, the career FBI agents, the career Secret Service agents that investigated this case didn’t just look at the Instagram post and walk away,” he continued.
“That’s why you saw an indictment last week, notwithstanding the fact that it was last May that the post was made. So I am not permitted to get into details of what the grand jury heard or found, as you know, but rest assured that it’s not just the Instagram post that leads somebody to get indicted,” Blanche added.
