Secret Service questions Mattituck farmer over ‘86 47’ sign above American flag
Two Secret Service agents visited a Mattituck farm Tuesday after a politically charged sign posted above a large American flag drew attention online, The Suffolk Times has learned.
The federal agents pulled up in a black Jeep Grand Cherokee on Breakwater Road days after the Fourth of July holiday to pay a visit to Douglas Cooper, the longtime operator of Cooper Farms, according to video taken by his relative.
The pair questioned Mr. Cooper about placing the numbers “86 47” above Old Glory, according to the video obtained by The Suffolk Times.
The term has been used to call for the ouster of Donald Trump, the 47th president. The number 86 is generally associated with restaurant slang for a menu item being sold out or ejecting a disruptive customer.
But the phrase also has been tied to extremists calling for the assassination of President Trump, leading to the Secret Service’s arrival.
Mr. Cooper denied that was his intention during the roughly 15-minute conversation with the Secret Service agents, which began around 1 p.m.
He told the agents the sign represents his belief that Congress should remove President Trump from office, but if it doesn’t, “then I hope the public does, and that he gets voted out,” according to the video.
The agents also asked Mr. Cooper how long he’s lived in the area, if he travels to Washington, D.C., Trump Tower in Manhattan or political rallies, and about any other affiliations; he told The Suffolk Times in a brief interview Tuesday after the agents left.
On Wednesday, he added: “I think they did the right thing. They had a complaint, and they wanted to check it out.”
During the discussion, the agents noted that his massive flag might “get in the way of traffic” but left without forcing him to take down the 86 47 sign.
“They were professional, polite and courteous,” Mr. Cooper told The Suffolk Times on Wednesday. “I had no concern because I knew that I was doing nothing wrong.”
A representative for the Secret Service declined comment.
Mr. Cooper said a previous “86 47” sign he placed on his property was stolen. He put the new sign atop the large American flag that he hung with a cherry picker above Breakwater Road last Thursday. Photos of it quickly circulated on social media, drawing hundreds of comments before the original post was taken down.
His family has been farming on the North Fork for nearly 200 years. Mr. Cooper opened his stand, which sells fresh eggs among other produce, about 60 years ago.
“I believe in our country. I believe in freedom and democracy, and I believe the president is destroying our country,” Mr. Cooper said. “I would hate to see anything happen to Trump. I fear it would send the country into chaos.”
