The arraignment of former FBI Director James Comey, who faces charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, has been moved up from October 9 to Wednesday, October 8. U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanof, a Biden appointee, cited “security concerns” for the rescheduling, citing other court cases expected to draw large crowds at the Alexandria, Virginia courthouse.
The federal judge’s decision comes as reports surfaced that FBI leadership considered a high-profile arrest of Comey, including deploying “beefy” agents in full tactical gear for a public “perp walk.” A source told CBS News that supervisory special agents were reportedly tasked with assembling personnel for the operation, though one agent was suspended for refusing to participate, citing concerns over the appropriateness of such an approach for a white-collar defendant.
Comey was indicted by a grand jury on September 25 and issued a summons for his October 9 arraignment. His legal team had agreed to appear in court, but FBI officials reportedly discussed bypassing the formal process to enforce his arrest immediately. The agency’s internal deliberations over the potential show trial have drawn scrutiny, with critics questioning the motives behind the planned spectacle.
