🔗 Share this article

Previous Federal Bureau of Investigation head James the ex-FBI chief has pleaded not guilty to giving untrue testimony to lawmakers and obstructing a lawmaking procedure.

Mr Comey's legal representative filed the plea representing him in a federal court in the Virginia city of Alexandria on Wednesday morning.

The defense lawyer announced he would seek to have the legal matter terminated for various factors including that his the accused, a opponent of Donald Trump, was being singled out.

James Comey was indicted just days after Trump urged his chief prosecutor to proceed against him.

Legal Proceedings

In court on mid-week, Comey's lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald advised the court they aimed to file several legal requests to throw out the legal matter before a court case, stating the legal action was retaliatory and that a government lawyer was improperly designated to handle the case.

Mr Comey's proceedings was initially overseen by a Virginia prosecutor, who stepped down under pressure from Donald Trump after his probe into another opponent - New York Attorney General Letitia James - was unable to bring criminal charges.

Legal Setting

Mr Comey appeared in positive mood as he entered the legal venue on mid-week, speaking with his attorneys and sharing humor. He was supported by his spouse, his wife and daughter Maureen, a federal prosecutor who the Trump administration terminated.

Following the reading to the court state his rights and the two counts against him in court on mid-week, the defendant was questioned if he understood the allegations.

"I do your honour. Appreciate it," he stated to the judge.

Background Context

Mr Comey was the head of the FBI from four years and was dismissed about several months into Donald Trump's initial presidency as national leader. At the time, the director was overseeing an investigation into Russian election interference and whether there were any relationships between the Russian government and Trump's campaign.

While in office, Mr Comey caused a counter-response from liberal politicians when he declared just immediately preceding the 2016 election that he was examining presidential nominee Clinton's use of a private email server. Indictments against the candidate were not filed, leading to criticism from conservative politicians as well.

Current Allegations

Government attorneys allege the former director gave untrue statements to the legislature during a congressional hearing in 2020 when he was being questioned about both the email probe as well as the election interference investigation. They claim he deceived the Senate by stating he had not authorized a person at the FBI to leak to journalistic entities details about the agency probes.

Prosecutors also accuse James Comey of "improperly attempting to influence, obstruct and slow" the committee by giving misleading testimony to it.

Personal Comments

In a video James Comey published to his Instagram after he was accused, he said he was not guilty and alleged the former president of conducting himself like a "dictator".

"We have understood for a long time that there are consequences to challenging Donald Trump," he commented. "We choose not to live on our kneeling."

"I am not guilty," he continued. "Thus initiate a trial."

The accusations against the former director came after Trump published on digital channels calling for his top legal official, Ms Bondi, prosecute the former director and other people.