Judge Issues Two-Week Restraining Order Blocking Removal of '86 47' Protest Flag, While Secret Service Continues 1,300+ Threat Investigations

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss issued a two-week restraining order Monday that prevents the National Park Service from revoking Accountability Now USA’s protest permit or ordering the group to remove an “86 47” flag. The judge ruled that no reasonable observer could view the flag as a threat to the president’s life or physical safety.

He wrote that it is difficult to fathom how the National Park Service or the Secret Service could have concluded that a reasonable observer would see the flag as a true threat. Judge Moss noted that the term “86” is used far more often to mean “throw out” than “kill,” and that the flag appeared at a demonstration focused on the constitutional impeachment and removal of the president.

Accountability Now USA has been protesting President Trump 24/7 near the National Mall.

Federal officers ordered the flag taken down last week after an individual opened fire on Secret Service personnel outside the White House. The Secret Service began an investigation into one of the group’s volunteers as a potential threat after the flag appeared.

” Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn stated in a court filing that the term “can incite violence by others” and that such conduct would be investigated to determine its potential to result in an act of violence.

The Secret Service is investigating or has investigated more than 1,300 instances of people using “86 47” or “86 46,” the latter referring to former President Joseph R. Biden. The same numeric symbol appears in the case against James B. Comey. ” Comey stated that he believed the post communicated a political message but “didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence,” and he later deleted the post.

Judge Moss’ ruling prevents the National Park Service from interfering with the group’s display of the flag for the next two weeks.