I have often wondered if the triumvirs might have regretted their attempt to use Clodius. They clearly thought they could control him, but he proved to be something of a wild card.

They really ought to have known better. He had already embarrassed Caesar through the Bona Dea scandal and the suspicion that Caesar's wife was carrying on with Clodius. He had also caused Pompey to spend a lot of political capital and lose something that Pompey wanted badly. In 61, Pompey had his man Piso Frugi elected consul with the expectation of getting the laws he passed in the east confirmed. Unfortunately, Piso neglected to ask Cicero to give his opinion first (a breach of protocol) and his support and protection of Clodius after the Bona Dea scandal so offended the optimates that they refused to confirm Pompey's acta.

And given the way he went after Cicero, I think Cicero may have been right. The triumvirs may have had larger game in mind (and Caesar, at least, seems to have had a fondness for Cicero and hoped to bring him around), but Clodius had his own agenda.