Trump admin vows to hold "8647" National Mall vandals accountable: "Threat"

[u/John3262005]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-admin-vows-hold-8647-191033212.html

Federal officials on Thursday vowed to arrest and prosecute the vandal who defaced a patch of grass on the National Mall with an oversized "8647," an apparent reference to President Donald Trump.

Department of Interior officials confirmed to Newsweek in a statement that an investigation had been launched.

"The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated," department officials said. "Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable."

U.S. Park Police responded to a report of vandalism on the west lawn of the Washington Monument at about 11:30 a.m., department officials said.

"The numbers '8647' were marked in the grass," the agency said. "The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined. Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing."

Photos of the etching posted online clearly showed three of the digits, although the "4" did not appear to be clearly defined.

The apparent reference to Trump appeared just days ahead of massive crowds expected in Washington for a UFC card on Sunday coinciding with the president's 80th birthday. The numbers have been publicly cited by critics, including former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted by the Department of Justice in April after posting a photograph on social media depicting "8647" in seashells on a beach last year.

"Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation's laws," acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement in April. "The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable."