US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has dismissed as rumors reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is planning a showdown arrest of its former director James Comey.
“We and the FBI make arrests in every court in this country every day of the year, including Saturdays and Sundays. In this case, the leak story was fabricated, the leak story was fabricated, and in reality, it's just a rumor,“ Blanche said in an interview with Fox News. “There is a criminal case underway and Comey is one of thousands of defendants charged every year. All this noise from former FBI agents, anonymous and unnamed sources about a show arrest is just that - noise.“
Earlier, American media reported that the FBI was considering organizing a show arrest of Comey on the day of his appearance in court. The hearing is expected to take place on October 8.
In a comment to Fox News, FBI Director Kesh Patel said that by publishing such materials, the media is trying to distract the public from the real work of the bureau and turn it into theater. “We are not in the theater business. We are in the business of presenting our findings in court“, Patel said.
On September 25, Comey was formally charged with giving false testimony to the US legislature and obstructing justice. He faces up to five years in prison. In late August, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with The Daily Caller that he would not object to the arrest of Comey and former CIA director John Brennan for their alleged involvement in the spread of false information by the Democratic Party about Russian interference in the 2016 US election.