An FBI agent has reportedly been suspended because they refused to participate in a perp walk of the bureau's former director James Comey, US media reports.
The agent was suspended for insubordination, according to the BBC's news partner CBS, after the agent found the plan to be inappropriate.
Mr. Comey was indicted in Virginia on two federal charges shortly after Donald Trump called for greater scrutiny of his political adversaries, including Mr. Comey.
FBI leadership discussed sending large, beefy agents in Kevlar vests to escort Mr. Comey to his court arraignment in Alexandria next week, CBS reported. The BBC has reached out to the FBI for comment.
During a perp walk, law enforcement publicly escorts a person accused of a crime, offering a dramatic spectacle often captured by media. This practice is common in high-profile cases across the U.S.
Mr. Comey's court appearance is set for October 9, where he is expected to face charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. The charges involve accusations of misleading a Senate committee in 2020 regarding his authorization of a leak to the media concerning classified information.
Once the FBI's director, Comey faced tumultuous times overseeing investigations into two significant matters: pro-Trump election interference in 2016 and Hillary Clinton's private email server usage. Comey has denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence in the federal judicial system.
If convicted, he could be looking at a potential five-year prison sentence. The recent indictment comes just before the expiration of a five-year statute of limitations and after Trump appointed a new prosecutor to push for investigations into Comey and other political rivals.
It remains uncertain if the plans for Comey's apprehension and public escort will move forward, as his attorneys are reportedly preparing to accompany him to court instead—an approach typically adopted in non-violent cases.
The BBC has reached out to Comey's attorneys for further details.
