Loomer 'Lawfully' Detained After Confronting Comey In Naperville: Cops

NAPERVILLE, IL — Naperville police say far-right activist Laura Loomer was "lawfully detained" after she was asked to leave a book signing event at which she confronted former FBI Director James Comey. Police addressed the incident in a statement posted to social media on Tuesday, saying she was detained "while our officers investigated whether she was involved in criminal activity. This individual was then permitted to leave the scene once the brief investigation was complete."

Loomer has gained notoriety for incidents that include handcuffing herself to Twitter's New York City office in 2018.

In response to Naperville police, Loomer, an activist known for her anti-Muslim remarks and self-proclaimed "America First Conservative," wrote, "As you can see from my video, your officer detained me and didn’t have any evidence of a crime."

The video Loomer references was posted to her account on June 6. It shows Loomer attending Comey's book signing event at Yellow Box Theater in Naperville on Monday.

Loomer holds a phone throughout the video, which appears to have been filmed by another woman.

During the event, the moderator asked Comey about storytelling.

At this, Loomer stands and says, "I think we all know, James Comey, that you're a great storyteller because we all know you made up the entire story about Crossfire Hurricane. So, it's really fitting that a criminal like yourself wrote a crime novel."

Loomer adds, "The FBI, under your watch, acted inappropriately and contrary to fidelity to the law."

After being prompted to sit down, Loomer says, "I think that your next crime novel should be about a criminal and incompetent FBI director who fed false information to the federal government and the press to stage a coup against an sitting United States President."

Several other crowd members then begin shouting, "Get out of here. You're making a scene. Go on; get out."

Someone in the crowd then tells Loomer the event is for "people who read books."

To this, Loomer replies, "Oh, I can read. Why don't you read the Durham report?" She adds, "Read John Durham's report, and you'll learn about a real life criminal. A real life criminal named James Comey."

Comey then stands and walks offstage.

Loomer shouts, "You're gonna get locked up, Comey. You're a criminal and when Donald Trump wins in 2024, you're going to jail."

Next, the video cuts to Loomer outside the venue speaking with what appears to be a member of the Naperville Police Department.

The officer says to Loomer, "Well, I do need you to hang out here. I need to see if they want you trespassed or..."

"Is she being detained," the woman holding the camera asks.

"Right now, yes," the officer responds. "Until I'm able to go inside —"

"What crime did she commit?" the woman holding the camera asks.

"Well, they wanted her gone, so I have to figure out if they want —," the police officer says.

"But what crime did she commit for her to be detained?" the woman asks.

"I'm investigating a crime right now," the officer says.

"What crime?"

"They called the cops because somebody was causing a disturbance inside, and they wanted her gone," the officer responds.

The police officer explains that she's there to investigate whether Loomer had been engaging in disorderly conduct or trespassing, or why she had been asked to leave.

Next, the person with the camera demands to speak with the officer's supervisor.

The video concludes with two officers letting Loomer know she is free to go, but would not be welcomed back at the Yellow Box Theater that night.

Loomer says she was in town from Florida for a wedding and happened to see that Comey would be speaking.

"I just asked a question, and they didn't like it very much," Loomer said.

The officer responds, "Well, it sounds like everyone's in agreement that the best option is going to be for [Loomer to leave]."

Loomer's video concludes with a callout to subscribe to her substack page.

Loomer has previously been in the media for anti-Muslim comments, including posts pleading for there to be a ride-share service that did not hire Muslims. According to CNN, Loomer has also called herself a "proud Islamophobe."

Loomer ran for election to Congress in Florida twice, but both bids were unsuccessful. Trump had previously planned to hire Loomer to help with his 2024 presidential campaign, but Loomer's history of incendiary behavior led Trump's campaign staff to backpedal on hiring her, per The New York Times.

Naperville police confirmed with Patch Wednesday that they had been called to the 1600 block of Emerson Lane for a "call about a disturbance and someone refusing to leave the property."

According to an email from Naperville Police Commander Michaus Williams, "The individual in question was detained for approximately 12 minutes while our officers spoke to all parties involved and investigated whether there was probable cause to make an arrest."

Williams added that "the individual" had not been handcuffed and he confirmed that no charges had been filed.

Williams wrote, "Based on the totality of the event, not just a portion of a video shared on social media, we maintain that the individual in question was lawfully detained while our officers conducted their investigation."