The FBI, now led by Director Kash Patel, is weighing whether to stage a public “perp walk” for former Director James Comey following his recent indictment, according to anonymous sources. While such a move would be welcomed by me and many others on the right (remember President Trump’s mugshot??) as a visible display of accountability, officials say there is internal resistance. One agent has reportedly been suspended after declining to take part in the effort.
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.
Comey was charged last week with lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, an unprecedented move that came after President Trump publicly pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into his longtime adversary. A grand jury voted to indict him on Sept. 25 and hours later, Comey was issued a summons directing him to appear in federal court in northern Virginia for an Oct. 9 arraignment. His lawyers agreed to bring him to his arraignment, two sources said.
The reports rely on anonymous sources, as per usual. Former Director Comey has already agreed to appear voluntarily for his arraignment, which is the standard procedure. However, senior FBI officials are reportedly considering alternative plans:
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 conversions (sic) 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 Chris Ray, 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.
Ray 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.
If accurate, the reports suggest an unusual step, to be fair, given that Comey is not accused of a violent offense and has already agreed to appear voluntarily at his arraignment. The accounts, however, are based entirely on anonymous sources.
Observers note that it remains unclear how rank-and-file FBI agents view the matter, though the Bureau’s response is likely to take shape as the case moves forward.
The hilarious part here is watching the legacy media tie themselves in knots over this. CBS News and the rest are suddenly clutching their pearls at the mere idea of a perp-walk. Really? Where was this delicate concern back in 2019 when Roger Stone was dragged out of his home in a pre-dawn raid with CNN cameras already rolling? Or when Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were marched in front of the cameras like trophies for the Left? Back then, the media could barely contain their glee, slobbering over every frame of footage.
But now that the shoe might be on the other foot, they’re wringing their hands and pretending to care about “fairness.” Spare us.
Patel isn’t having it. He’s made his position crystal clear and even took to his official X account to let MSNBC’s Barbara McQuade — and the American people — know exactly where he stands.
“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,” he wrote on X.
https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1974475527496052996
As satisfying as it would be for many Americans, the odds of a Comey perp-walk are slim. Unless he suddenly decides to skip his arraignment — which seems highly unlikely — he’ll stroll into court with a small army of lawyers at his side and just as quickly stroll back out, free to go about his business until trial or until he cuts some kind of deal.
But that doesn’t make Director Patel’s response any less powerful. He’s right to call out the blatant double standard. The hypocrisy of the legacy media — so eager to cheer the spectacle when it was Trump allies in the hot seat, yet suddenly squeamish now — has once again been exposed. And shining a light on that hypocrisy is always worth doing.
