US federal authorities are investigating a massive etching of the numbers '8647' into the grass of the National Mall, discovered on June 11. Live webcam footage from atop the Washington Monument shows a highly visible '8', with the other digits appearing fainter.
The US Park Police responded to a report of vandalism at approximately 11:30 am. 'The numbers 8647 were marked in the grass,' a statement said. 'The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined. Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.'
The number '86' is commonly used in the restaurant industry to mean remove or discard, while Donald Trump is the 47th president of the United States. A US Department of Interior spokesperson called the incident 'deranged vandalism' and emphasized that any threat against the president is taken seriously.
This incident follows a similar case in April, when former FBI Director James Comey was charged for posting a picture on Instagram of seashells arranged to spell '8647'. The Department of Justice charged Comey with two felonies, including making a threat against the president. Comey later removed the post and has pleaded not guilty.
The etching comes weeks before the US marks its 250th anniversary with events on the National Mall, and after extensive renovations overseen by Trump, including a $13.1 million makeover of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
