The drama swirling around former FBI director James Comey reached new heights this week, as multiple news outlets revealed that the FBI suspended an agent for refusing to stage a public "perp walk" of Comey in front of the media. The move, described by some critics as a political spectacle, has sparked fierce debate about the weaponization of justice, the boundaries of law enforcement protocol, and the ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and his former FBI chief.
According to Reuters and CBS News, the agent in question was relieved of duty after declining to organize a showy arrest of Comey, who was indicted on September 25, 2025, for making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation. The indictment, which followed public pressure from President Trump, marks the first time in his administration that a grand jury has indicted a political rival. As reported by CBS News, the FBI leadership wanted the arrest to be highly visible, with "large, beefy" agents in full tactical gear, Kevlar vests, and FBI logos, escorting Comey into the Washington field office for booking. The agent, a supervisory special agent in the violent crimes division, found the plan inappropriate for a white-collar defendant like Comey and refused to participate—resulting in suspension for insubordination.
Other FBI supervisors also reportedly declined to take part in the plan, but sources told CBS News and MSNBC that the bureau is still seeking personnel willing to carry out the arrest before Comey's scheduled court appearance on October 9 in Alexandria, Virginia. Only a summons—not an arrest warrant—was issued, which is common for non-violent, white-collar cases. Yet, defendants often report to an FBI field office for booking after a summons, leaving room for the agency to execute an arrest if it chooses.
Comey, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, is set to appear for arraignment in federal court. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, declined to comment on the unfolding situation, according to CBS News and Reuters. The indictment accuses Comey of lying during a Senate hearing five years ago, specifically about whether he had authorized anyone at the FBI to serve as an anonymous source in media reports concerning investigations into Hillary Clinton. The details of the alleged leak remain unclear, as the indictment does not specify what information was shared or who was involved.
The backdrop to these developments is a long-running and bitter feud between Trump and Comey. Trump fired Comey in 2017, early in his first presidential term, and has since repeatedly criticized the former director's handling of the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The indictment and the push for a public arrest come after years of Trump threatening to imprison his political adversaries. As Reuters noted, the move against Comey is the first time such threats have resulted in an actual grand jury indictment.
Legal experts and civil liberties advocates have questioned the FBI’s pursuit of a public spectacle. The tactic of staging perp walks—where defendants are paraded before cameras—has long been controversial. Critics argue it undermines the presumption of innocence and serves mainly to humiliate the accused. Ironically, when Comey was the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan during the George W. Bush administration, the New York Civil Liberties Union urged him to end the practice, stating it "seems calculated simply to cause public humiliation and embarrassment of the accused."
The controversy has also reignited debate about the politicization of law enforcement. The indictment of Comey followed days of upheaval in the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Virginia, where the charges were brought. The lead prosecutor, Erik Siebert, resigned just before the indictment, and Trump replaced him with his former personal lawyer, Lindsey Halligan. According to CBS News, some staff in the office circulated a memo arguing against bringing charges, but Halligan moved forward with the indictment less than a week after taking over. The Justice Department also fired two high-level prosecutors in the district in the preceding weeks, further fueling speculation about political motivations.
The FBI’s current director, Kash Patel, added fuel to the fire with a profanity-laden online rant targeting MSNBC for its reporting on the agent’s suspension. Patel dismissed the network as a "clown factory of disinformation" and appeared to confirm the firing by insisting, "In this FBI, follow the chain of command or get relieved." Patel also criticized media coverage of previous high-profile arrests, arguing that the FBI had not staged perp walks for figures like Roger Stone, Peter Navarro, or Steve Bannon—though, as The Mirror pointed out, only Bannon was ever perp walked, and not by the FBI.
This latest episode has polarized political observers and the public alike. On one side, Trump allies argue that the indictment and proposed perp walk are justified responses to alleged misconduct by a former top law enforcement official. They point to the seriousness of lying to Congress and insist that Comey should not receive special treatment because of his status. On the other side, critics see the spectacle as a dangerous escalation in Trump’s campaign to punish his enemies and intimidate dissenters within the government. MSNBC legal analyst Barb McQuade noted on social media that Department of Justice policy "prohibits 'perp walks', in which arrestees are paraded before the cameras," suggesting the move is both unorthodox and potentially illegal.
The case also comes amid a broader pattern of investigations targeting Trump’s perceived antagonists. The Justice Department is reportedly investigating other figures, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser. This raises fresh concerns about selective prosecution and the use of federal power for personal or political vendettas.
As Comey’s arraignment approaches, the atmosphere in Washington is charged with uncertainty, suspicion, and no small amount of drama. Whether the FBI will carry out a public arrest remains to be seen, but the episode has already left a mark on the agency’s reputation and the ongoing debate over the independence of American law enforcement. For now, all eyes are on Alexandria, Virginia, where a former FBI director will soon face a federal judge—and the next chapter in a saga that shows no signs of quieting down.
