According to multiple individuals familiar with the matter, senior FBI officials wanted Comey to be publicly escorted into the Washington field office in a display designed for cameras. However, the plan was controversial because Comey was not arrested but instead issued a court summons, making such an event highly unusual in federal practice. The agent involved reportedly declined to take part, viewing the “perp walk” as inappropriate and contrary to standard procedure. Soon afterward, the agent was relieved of duty. The exact circumstances, including who ordered the plan and how high the directive came from, remain unclear. The FBI has declined to comment, citing personnel confidentiality.

Comey was formally charged on September 25 with obstructing a congressional investigation and making false statements. Prosecutors allege he lied during a 2020 Senate hearing by claiming he had not authorized any FBI official to serve as an anonymous source for news reports. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in announcing the indictment, said that “no one is above the law,” and that the Justice Department is committed to accountability for all public officials.

Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017 before being dismissed by President Donald Trump, has denied any wrongdoing and is expected to appear in court next week. His firing in 2017 was officially attributed to his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation, though it later became a focal point in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into potential obstruction of justice.

The reported internal dispute within the FBI comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Justice Department’s independence. If confirmed, the removal of an agent for refusing to stage a media-oriented arrest could suggest growing discomfort among career law enforcement officers about the politicization of criminal cases. Federal agents rarely organize “perp walks,” especially in cases involving court summonses rather than arrests, as such displays risk prejudicing public opinion before trial.

Comey has long been a target of Trump’s criticism, frequently portrayed by the former president as emblematic of what he calls corruption within the FBI. Since leaving office, Comey has been an outspoken critic of Trump, accusing him of undermining the rule of law and describing him as “morally unfit” to serve. Critics of the indictment argue that the charges and the surrounding optics amount to political payback.

Neither the Justice Department nor the FBI has provided details on the personnel action or the alleged plan. Legal experts suggest that if the reports are substantiated, they could have implications for Comey’s defense, possibly supporting claims of selective prosecution or improper political influence. Others warn that the controversy may further erode public trust in the Bureau’s neutrality.

For now, both the reported dismissal of the agent and the planned “perp walk” remain unconfirmed officially, but they have reignited debate over whether America’s top law enforcement institutions are being used as tools of political vengeance rather than instruments of impartial justice.