An FBI agent has been relieved [1] of duty after refusing to participate in a proposed “perp walk” for former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted last month on federal charges of lying to Congress and obstruction of justice.
BREAKING: An FBI agent has been FIRED for refusing to arrange the perp walk and arrest of disgraced former FBI Director James Comey, who has been indicted, per Reuters.
FAFO.
Sounds like a Deep Stater just lost their job. pic.twitter.com/mNlzE77UFT [2]
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 3, 2025 [3]
Comey was formally charged on September 25 with making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.
The indictment stems from his September 30, 2020, testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where prosecutors allege he made false statements regarding the FBI’s handling of classified information and obstructed inquiries related to the agency’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation.
That probe, launched in 2016, examined alleged Russian interference in the election and led to the now-discredited “Russia collusion” claims involving President Donald Trump.
Following the indictment, Comey was issued a summons to appear before a federal court in Northern Virginia for arraignment on October 9.
His attorneys notified prosecutors that he intends to appear voluntarily.
According to a report from CBS News, senior officials within the FBI discussed whether to stage an arrest rather than permit Comey to self-surrender.
The network, citing multiple sources familiar with internal deliberations, reported that some officials considered having agents execute the arrest “in full kit,” equipped with Kevlar vests and jackets clearly marked “FBI.”
The plan mirrored tactics used in several high-profile arrests during recent years, including pre-dawn raids on individuals connected to the events of January 6, 2021, and on former Trump administration officials such as Peter Navarro and Roger Stone.
Those operations drew widespread criticism for the use of heavily armed tactical teams to apprehend defendants charged with non-violent or procedural offenses.
The CBS News report stated that FBI Supervisory Special Agent Chris Ray, assigned to the violent crimes division of the bureau’s Washington Field Office, was instructed to organize the Comey operation.
However, Ray declined to comply with the directive, reportedly believing the proposed show of force was “inappropriate and highly unusual for a white-collar defendant like Comey.”
A source familiar with the matter told the network that Ray was subsequently suspended for insubordination after refusing to assemble the tactical arrest team.
The source added that Ray’s suspension followed his internal objections to what he viewed as a politicized use of the FBI’s operational capabilities.
Despite the refusal, senior leadership within the bureau has continued preparations for a potential arrest before Comey’s scheduled court appearance.
Barb McQuade right before the Biden/Trump debate last year: It was Russian disinformation in 2016 that Hillary wasn’t healthy, and it’s Russian disinformation now that Biden has declined and is too old to lead.pic.twitter.com/NCLoh9mNix [4]
— MAZE (@mazemoore) October 4, 2025 [5]
According to CBS News, other supervisors have also voiced concerns about the optics and necessity of the plan, but the agency is expected to find personnel willing to carry out the order.
Comey’s indictment marks a rare prosecution of a former FBI director.
His testimony before Congress in 2020 had focused on the origins of the Crossfire Hurricane probe and the handling of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications targeting members of President Trump’s campaign.
The Justice Department’s inspector general later identified “significant inaccuracies and omissions” in those filings, though no charges had been brought against Comey until last month.
As of this week, it remains unclear whether the bureau will proceed with a formal arrest or permit Comey to appear voluntarily for his October 9 arraignment.
The Department of Justice has not commented on the internal dispute, and the FBI has not responded publicly to reports of Ray’s suspension.
The case has drawn attention across political circles given Comey’s prominent role in the FBI’s leadership during the 2016 election and his involvement in the investigations that shaped subsequent political controversies.
The outcome of the internal standoff within the FBI—and how the agency handles Comey’s court appearance—remains to be seen as the arraignment date approaches.