DOJ Leaves Open Possibility of Investigating Whitmer for 8645 Pin from 2020 Interview

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A controversy from 2020 is back in play as the U.S. Department of Justice says it is leaving open the possibility of investigating Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer over a pin displaying “8645” that appeared in the background of a national TV interview.

The pin, seen during an NBC Meet the Press appearance, was interpreted by some as a message aimed at then-President Donald Trump. In common slang, “86” can mean remove, while “45” refers to Trump as the 45th president, leading critics at the time to claim it signaled “remove Trump.”

Trump’s campaign in 2020 accused Whitmer of encouraging violence, but no investigation followed and the issue faded without action. Whitmer never publicly addressed the pin.

Now, in April 2026, the DOJ’s position comes under a different political climate, with President Trump back in office and federal investigators taking a more aggressive approach toward political opponents. The move follows a separate case involving former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted over a social media post using similar numbered symbolism.

Legal questions are already being raised about whether symbolic political messages like a pin or image can cross into criminal territory, or whether they remain protected speech.

The DOJ has not opened a formal investigation, but the fact that it remains on the table is already drawing attention across Michigan.

If federal authorities move forward, the case could test how far the government can go in treating symbolic political expression as a potential crime.