FBI agent suspended over refusal to ‘perp walk’ former director

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on two federal charges in Virginia, just days after former President Donald Trump urged law enforcement to intensify investigations into his political opponents. The charges, which include lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, stem from allegations that Comey authorized a leak of classified information to the media in 2020. Comey, who led the FBI during a period marked by investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, has denied the allegations, expressing confidence in the federal judicial system. The indictment comes shortly before the five-year statute of limitations would have expired and follows Trump’s appointment of Lindsey Halligan, his former personal attorney, as a top prosecutor in the region. Trump has publicly called for investigations into Comey and other political adversaries, emphasizing the urgency of such actions. Meanwhile, an FBI agent was reportedly suspended for refusing to participate in a ‘perp walk’ for Comey, a practice where law enforcement publicly escorts an accused individual, often in view of media cameras. Comey is scheduled to appear in court on October 9 for his arraignment, where the charges will be formally read. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. The situation underscores the ongoing political tensions in the U.S., with Comey remaining a focal point of Trump’s ire since his firing in 2017.