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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Did the military arrest former FBI Director James Comey?

By Dana Ford
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NO

An article making the claim relies on a purported unnamed source and appears on a website that's known for publishing false allegations. 

A spokesperson for the office of the secretary of defense said no such arrest happened, and Lead Stories could find no credible confirmation of the story.

Under federal law, a military arrest of a citizen would be highly unusual, as such actions are prohibited under the Posse Comitatus Act. Some limited exceptions apply, such as Coast Guard arrest of drug smugglers.

Lead Stories reached out to the Pentagon to ask about the alleged arrest. In an email, dated April 26, 2021, a duty officer for the office of the secretary of defense responded: "This is false."

See a full discussion of this at Lead Stories
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Federation of American Scientists The Use of the Military to Execute
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Lead Stories
Lead Stories is a fact checking and debunking website at the intersection of big data and journalism that launched in 2015. It scouts for trending stories, images, videos and posts that contain false information in order to fact check them as quickly as possible. It actively monitors the fake-news ecosystem and doesn’t wait for reader tips or reports before getting started on a story.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.