FBI Director Kash Patel criticized MSNBC on Saturday after one of the network’s legal analysts posted that Department of Justice policy prohibits so-called “perp walks” in front of news media.
Patel’s remarks came amid reports that the FBI relieved an agent of duty on Friday over a dispute involving whether to arrange a public appearance in custody for former FBI Director James Comey.
Patel responded on X after Barb McQuade, a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and a legal analyst for MSNBC, wrote that DOJ policy bars staging “perp walks” for cameras.
Her comments followed multiple reports that an FBI agent was relieved for failing to arrange such an appearance for Comey.
Patel did not deny the reports about the personnel action; he wrote that, under his leadership, agents are expected to follow established lines of authority.
“MSNBC still an ass clown factory of disinformation,” Patel wrote Saturday.
“Same circus animals that slobbered all over perp walks of Stone, Navarro, Bannon… MSNBC has no facts and no audience. In this FBI, follow the chain of command or get relieved.”
BREAKING: MSNBC still an ass clown factory of disinformation. Same circus animals that slobbered all over perp walks of Stone, Navarro, Bannon…
MSNBC has no facts and no audience
In this @fbi, follow the chain of command or get relieved. https://t.co/vl0gPLM6vm
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) October 4, 2025
McQuade’s post asserted that DOJ policy prohibits agents from arranging public displays of defendants for the press.
Her statement appeared to be directed at media accounts describing internal FBI actions related to the handling of Comey’s case.
Comey was indicted on Sept. 25 for lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional investigation.
Reporting on Friday stated that the FBI relieved an agent of duty after what was described as a failure to coordinate a public appearance in custody for Comey, a practice McQuade criticized in general terms in her post.
BREAKING: An FBI agent has been FIRED for refusing to arrange the perp walk and arrest of disgraced former FBI Director James Comey, who has been indicted, per Reuters.
FAFO.
Sounds like a Deep Stater just lost their job. pic.twitter.com/mNlzE77UFT
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 3, 2025
Patel emphasized adherence to internal procedures.
Following Patel’s post, individuals who have previously been subjects of high-profile federal arrests weighed in.
Political consultant Roger Stone and journalist Steve Baker each replied on X with widely circulated images from their arrests, highlighting examples of publicized custody events that drew national attention.
Really ? https://t.co/d4ez18IxDK pic.twitter.com/bkR9xjQbaN
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) October 4, 2025
Excuse me? Hello! https://t.co/qZCvo4771g pic.twitter.com/nHXCDz27Dp
— Steve Baker (@SteveBakerUSA) October 4, 2025
McQuade, who served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2010 to 2017, framed her point around what she said are departmental policies discouraging law enforcement from orchestrating public displays of defendants for cameras.
There should be no State Run Media. The government has no proper role in the operation of a news agency. However, news is a important component of any society and is vital in a free republic or deomcratic country. The people need to know what is being done in their name and with their taxes. The government has a role in making sure the truth is told by the news media. Truth is not subjective. There is no such thing as “my facts and your facts.” To that end, news media (TV, Radio, Print, whatever venue it might be or become) and each and every reporter should be licensed. That license should be predicated on telling the facts and the truth without any interpretation. Anyone who wants to give their opinion should be allowed and protected in doing so but not under the auspices of reporting the news. There should be reporters and journalists. Reporters report the truth and journalists can say whatever they feel like saying. Just as there are warning labels on medicine, food, drugs, cigarettes, and whatever, news should be separated and identified distinctly from opinion. A Reporter, resopnsible for reporting The news, the facts, the truth, should be liable for any misstatements, misrepresentations, and outright lies that they tell and subject to having their license revoked. An ombudsman department for monitoring and managing the standards of reporting should be set up to deal with reporters who lie.
Hold it! MSNBC is still on the air? Haven’t watched it in years. Guessing, just like CNN, their main viewership must be one sees on the video screens at airports and rail stations. Just white noise.
Yeah – they’re the ones who were just got cut loose by NBC. Prediction – won’t be long before they’re a “podcast” only crowd.
Of course MSNBC is still a clown show – the decision-makers are the head ass clowns! Personally, stopped watching/listening to anything coming out of mainstream ‘news’ as nothing is actual news – straight up propaganda tis all.