Assistant Attorney General Criticizes ‘Shock-and-Awe’ Tactics in Handling of Trump Allies

By Michael Katz | Wednesday, 08 October 2025 07:28 PM EDT

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, criticized the treatment of former FBI Director James Comey during his arraignment, contrasting it with what she described as excessive measures taken against Trump-era officials under the Biden administration.

Dhillon told Newsmax that Comey’s calm surrender and court appearance on federal charges of making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding “was the appropriate way law enforcement should behave.” She condemned the use of “shock-and-awe” tactics, including armed guards and media presence, during the arrests of figures like Roger Stone and Jeffrey Clark.

“The violation of protocols in these cases is unacceptable,” Dhillon said on The Chris Salcedo Show. “When Roger Stone was arrested, his children were terrorized while the media watched—a clear abuse of power.” She emphasized that such actions “are not the American way” and called for restraint in legal proceedings.

Comey, who served as FBI director from 2013 to 2017, pleaded not guilty in federal court to charges related to his testimony about the bureau’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. He was released without bail pending a hearing later this month.

Dhillon also referenced other high-profile arrests, including Peter Navarro and Jeffrey Clark, arguing that the government’s approach “was completely wrong and un-American.” She expressed frustration over the lack of accountability for officials who faced similar treatment.