The FBI is reportedly considering a high-profile arrest of former director James Comey, according to multiple news outlets. Reuters reported that an FBI agent was dismissed for refusing to organize a public “perp walk” of Comey after he was federally charged last month. The report stated, “An FBI agent was relieved of duty for declining to arrange a ‘perp walk’ of the bureau’s former director, James Comey, in front of news media cameras after Comey was federally charged last month, four people briefed on the matter said on Friday.”
MSNBC also confirmed the firing of an agent who declined to plan Comey’s arrest. FBI Director Kash Patel responded to MSNBC’s coverage by stating:
“BREAKING: MSNBC still an ass clown factory of disinformation. Same circus animals that slobbered all over perp walks of Stone, Navarro, Bannon… MSNBC has no facts and no audience In this @fbi, follow the chain of command or get relieved.”
Comey is scheduled for arraignment on October 9 before US District Judge Michael Nachmanoff.
CBS News reported that the FBI is assembling a team to arrest Comey before his court appearance. According to their sources, some supervisors have refused to participate in the plan but it is expected that agents will eventually be found for the task. CBS News wrote:
“The FBI is now actively working to put together a team to arrest Comey between now and his court appearance on Thursday, but other FBI supervisors have also refused to cooperate, said a source knowledgeable about the conversations and a law enforcement source familiar with the situation. The expectation is that the FBI will eventually find somebody.”
The outlet further detailed:
“The FBI is considering carrying out a ‘showy’ arrest and perp walk of the agency’s now-indicted ex-Director James Comey, and has suspended an agent who refused to participate in the plan, three sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.
But on the same day as his indictment, FBI leadership discussed hauling Comey in instead of waiting for the ex-FBI chief to report to court on his own, a source knowledgeable about the conversations told CBS News.
The source told CBS News that leadership asked for ‘large, beefy’ agents to conduct an arrest of Comey ‘in full kit,’ including Kevlar vests and exterior wear emblazoned with the FBI logo. It was suggested that a supervisory special agent in the violent crimes division of the FBI’s Washington Field Office would be able to put together the kinds of agents who fit the bill, the source said.
The agent, however, refused to participate in this plan, believing it would be inappropriate and highly unusual for a white-collar defendant like Comey, according to the source. He was then suspended for insubordination.”
Last week, James Comey was indicted by a grand jury in Virginia on two counts: making false statements and obstruction of justice related to his testimony before Congress. U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan stated: “Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging former FBI Director James Comey with making a false statement and obstruction relating to his oral testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 30, 2020. The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of public trust at an extraordinary level,” said U.S. Attorney Halligan.
A Department of Justice spokesperson added: “If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.”
In response to these developments, Comey posted a video message online criticizing former President Trump: “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump. But we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way,” he said.
“We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either,” he continued.
“My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system and I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial,” Comey added.
